City of Stoke-on-Trent train name plate unveiled to mark 100 years of city status

The City of Stoke-on-Trent train has passed through Stoke-on-Trent to celebrate the city’s 100th anniversary.

The City of Stoke-on-Trent train has passed through Stoke-on-Trent to celebrate the city’s 100th anniversary.

Unveiled at London Euston this morning, the special City of Stoke-on-Trent nameplate was officially revealed on the same date the city was granted its status by King George V in 1925. The nameplate carrying the city crest now also includes the city centenary 1925 - 2025.

The Avanti West Coast Pendolino 390129 then travelled north, carrying all the city’s MPs to Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station, where they were welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Steve Watkins.

The train is one of the 33 Avanti West Coast Pendolinos that carries a name and now honours the city’s Centenary as well.

It also carries the name ‘Brett’ in memory of Brett Hobson, a much-loved Avanti employee who lost his battle with cancer. Several of his friends and colleagues were at Stoke Station to greet the train.

Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Steve Watkins said: “It’s a great honour to see Stoke-on-Trent’s name carried proudly across the country on one of Avanti West Coast’s iconic trains.

“This is a special moment in our Centenary year, reminding us not only of our proud past but also of the journey we continue to make as a city. It’s a celebration of our identity, our communities and our place on the national map.”

Andy Mellors, Managing Director at Avanti West Coast, said: “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.”

The unveiling forms part of a wider programme of events celebrating 100 years of city status for Stoke-on-Trent.

For more on the Centenary and what’s happening across the city, visit sot100.org.uk.