Avanti West Coast has marked the 100th anniversary of Stoke-on-Trent becoming a city with the unveiling of a specially updated nameplate on one of its Pendolino trains.
In partnership with the Stoke 100 campaign, which is delivering a programme of events throughout 2025 to mark the centenary, the train operator updated the nameplate on Pendolino 390129, ‘City of Stoke-on-Trent’, to feature the dates ‘1925–2025’. The refreshed design was formally revealed during a ceremony at London Euston on 5 June – the date recognised as Stoke-on-Trent Day, commemorating the official granting of city status by King George V in 1925.
The event was attended by civic representatives including Stoke-on-Trent MPs Allison Gardner, David Williams and Gareth Snell, who boarded the train bound for the city to join the official birthday celebrations. At Stoke-on-Trent station, the Pendolino was welcomed by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Steve Watkins, along with special guests, friends, and colleagues of Avanti West Coast.
The train also bears the name ‘Brett’ at the cab ends, in memory of Brett Hobson, a much-loved member of the Avanti West Coast team who passed away from cancer in 2022. The naming remains a tribute to his contribution and character.
Guests at the station enjoyed locally produced refreshments, including Titanic Brewery’s special Century Anniversary Ale and a commemorative birthday cake, as part of the city’s inaugural Stoke-on-Trent Day – now to be held annually on 5 June. Avanti West Coast was formally presented with a certificate from the Lord Mayor recognising the operator’s contribution to the celebrations and to the city’s rail connectivity.
Avanti West Coast serves Stoke-on-Trent on its route along the West Coast Main Line, with its Pendolino fleet delivering long-distance intercity services across the network. The centenary also coincides with another significant rail milestone – the 200th anniversary of the railway in the UK, further highlighting Stoke-on-Trent’s longstanding association with the national network.
“It’s an honour for us to take part in the official birthday celebrations of this fantastic city. We proudly serve Stoke-on-Trent with our Pendolino trains and have a great team at the station who take pride in welcoming hundreds of thousands of people to and from the city by rail each year. Our Pendolino nameplate is a nod to the rich heritage of Stoke-on-Trent which has long been connected to the railway and comes as 2025 also marks the 200th anniversary of the railway in the UK. The ‘City of Stoke-on-Trent’ will be making many more journeys on the West Coast Main Line and some of those will be bringing people together to celebrate this fantastic city,” Andy Mellors, Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, said.
The Stoke 100 campaign will continue with a year-long programme of cultural and civic events, showcasing the city’s heritage, creativity and diversity.
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