South Western Railway unveils ‘LEGOLAND Locomotive’ to celebrate LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort turning 30

The excitement for a day at LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort now starts right on the platform – and from today, even the journey itself becomes part of the creative adventure. This morning South Western Railway (SWR) unveiled a colorful Arterio train at London Waterloo: the “LEGOLAND Locomotive.” With its vibrant LEGO-inspired design and the LEGO character “Brick Suit Girl” on board, the train marks exactly the 30th anniversary of the UK’s number-one theme park, which first opened on March 17, 1996.

For 30 years, thousands of families have traveled by train to Windsor & Eton Riverside, the direct gateway to the Resort, to enjoy days full of adventure, play and imagination. The new LEGOLAND Locomotive captures this feeling perfectly. It shows how train rides and LEGO together spark creativity and excitement across generations. For many fans, the magic begins the moment they step on board, because the journey itself becomes part of the experience.

“There’s plenty of research about the importance of creativity for children’s psychological health and wellbeing, and train journeys provide the ideal time and opportunity for imaginative play. When kids get absorbed in drawing, doodling, building with LEGO or simply watching the world go by out the window, they enter a ‘flow state’ similar to mindfulness. Worries and stress hormones decrease while positive hormones like dopamine increase. Train journeys offer precious, uninterrupted time away from screens and daily distractions, allowing children – and parents – to slow down and get ready for a fun-filled day out.”
Rachel Kelly, best-selling author and child psychology expert

At the same time, the unveiling marks another important milestone for SWR’s modern £1 billion Arterio fleet. These trains now run on more than 500 services a day across the suburban network and provide 50 percent more capacity than the models they replace. The LEGOLAND Locomotive doesn’t just take families to LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort – it also connects them with other Merlin favorites including Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Thorpe Park, the London Eye and SEA LIFE London Aquarium.

“The unveiling of the LEGOLAND Locomotive is the perfect way to celebrate 30 years of LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. This route brings families to our destinations, from LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort at one end to our South Bank attractions – including the London Eye – at the other, with Thorpe Park along the way. Thanks to South Western Railway, guests can leave the car at home and enjoy memorable visits to several Merlin locations both on this route and beyond. And what better way to reach one of our seven attractions than on the LEGOLAND Locomotive!”
Fiona Eastwood, CEO of Merlin Entertainments

“This is a fantastic addition to our 30th birthday celebrations. Families can look forward not only to riding our Hill Train at the Resort, but also to starting their LEGOLAND adventure earlier in the day by boarding the LEGOLAND Locomotive. They’ll enjoy an incredible journey full of play and creativity and create memories that last a lifetime. I look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to LEGOLAND Windsor Resort this season.”
Ramesh Ganeson, VP, LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort

“With more than 500 services operated by our Arterio fleet every day, customers across our network are feeling the benefits of these game-changing new trains – whether they’re heading into London or to Windsor for a visit to LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Naming one of our trains the ‘LEGOLAND Locomotive’ celebrates the idea that train travel is about more than just getting from A to B. The railway connects people with the places they love, and the journey is very much part of the adventure. The LEGOLAND Locomotive and our partnership with Merlin Attractions is a wonderful way to mark a major milestone for one of the network’s most popular destinations and to highlight the important role rail plays in connecting communities with great places across our region.”
James Wale, Fleet Director at South Western Railway

For LEGOLAND fans across the UK and beyond, the LEGOLAND Locomotive has become the perfect start to magical park days filled with creativity and family fun – completely car-free and brimming with excitement right from the first mile.