The Grand Build to recreate Adelante train using LEGO

Calling all Master Builders! Grand Central Rail is celebrating its Adelante refurbishment programme with a very special event this October half term – putting their trains among the ranks of world famous landmarks which have been recreated using LEGO®.

Grand Central is calling on young Master Builders to help build one of its newly refurbished Adelante trains – designed with passengers’ comfort in mind – as part of an exclusive ticketed school holiday challenge with the renowned North East LEGO® architect BrickThis – aka Steve Mayes.

As Grand Central looks to the future with the continuation of its £9million refurbishment programme, local families along the West Riding route will work with Steve to build a scale model of one of the newly refurbished Adelante trains to celebrate the investment in its fleet.

From Tuesday 30th October to Thursday 1st November 2018, Grand Central is inviting children aged 5 to 13 years old to the exclusive ticket only event at the Conservatory within the grounds of Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax, to help Steve Mayes with the construction of the LEGO® Adelante train in his biggest challenge to date.

At each session Steve will give youngsters a section of the Adelante train to build, along with full instructions and assistance to help them every step of the way.

The Grand Build sessions will run everyday at 10am and 2pm. To take part, budding builders (and their parents or guardians) need to apply for a session via the event page at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-grand-build-tickets-50855428957

Tickets are free, but there are only limited spaces available and tickets will be restricted to one session per family, so those wanting to take part are urged to make sure they apply as soon as possible. Booking is essential for both adults and children. Families who are lucky enough to secure tickets for this exclusive event will also receive free entry to Eureka!

Grand Central, an established rail operator and part of the Arriva group, is very excited to see its Adelante trains joining with many other famous national and world landmarks which have been built out of LEGO® .

Noreen Allen, Marketing & Communications Manager at Grand Central, said: “We are delighted that our refurbished Adelante trains are going to be recreated in LEGO® and that this will be Steve’s biggest challenge yet. It is exciting to be joining the likes of the Westminster Abbey, Eiffel Tower and other world famous landmarks which have had this unique honour.

“LEGO® is more popular than ever, and a real icon in itself. This event will give youngsters the chance to get involved and play their part in immortalising our Adelante trains and capturing all the details of their interior and exterior overhaul – designed to ensure passengers’ comfort while travelling with us. The Grand Build will be fun and educational, which is ideal for the October school break.

“We pride ourselves on listening to our passengers and taking on board their feedback. They told us what is most important to them, and that’s why we’re investing £9million to improve the comfort and reliability of our entire fleet and services for the communities which we serve.”

The fleet refurbishment is part of Grand Central’s ongoing investment programme which includes enhancing the customer experience on-board, online, and at stations.

LEGO® architect Steve Mayes has taken his childhood hobby and turned it into a thriving business, using the famous coloured building blocks to faithfully recreate iconic landmarks, brick by brick.

Steve has already built LEGO® models of the Royal Institute Chartered Surveyors HQ in London, Saint James’ Park, the Angel of the North and his North Shields home.

He said: “When Grand Central approached me about recreating one of its refurbished Adelante trains as a scale LEGO® model, it really appealed to me as an exciting new challenge.

"Together with my Master Builder helpers we’ll be creating an accurate and highly detailed model, utilising some advanced LEGO® building techniques that all the family can enjoy.

“Free play during events such as this is a great way for children to explore and learn about the world around them. By sparking their imaginations and engaging them in play children can experience and understand how things work, recognise what they are capable of and interact with other people. It is both a fun and educational experience which children can share with their families.”

Eureka! is one of West Yorkshire’s most-loved attractions and is the only fully interactive museum in the UK totally dedicated to children. The Conservatory within the museum’s grounds where The Grand Build will take place overlooks Halifax train station where young Master Builders will be able to see the Adelante trains on the track while helping to create a scale LEGO® model of the very same train.

Rob Young, Commercial Manager at Eureka! said: “Everyone loves LEGO®. It’s the ultimate toy that encourages kids to explore their limitless imaginations and creativity so we’re chuffed to be hosting The Grand Build in our Conversatory space – a perfect backdrop for lovers of trains as it’s based on Halifax’s old train platform and Grand Central Trains run literally outside the window. We couldn’t choo-choo choose a better event to host as we know our visitors will love it!”

Grand Central operates West Riding Services between Bradford Interchange, Low Moor, Halifax, Brighouse, Mirfield, Wakefield Kirkgate, Pontefract Monkhill, Doncaster and London King’s Cross. The rail operator also operates North East services between Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk, York and London King’s Cross.

To find out more about Grand Central, please visit www.grandcentralrail.com or follow the railway company on Twitter @GC_Rail, Facebook or LinkedIn.

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Picture caption:

Steve Mayes (BrickThis) and a sneak peak of the Adelante train which families can apply for tickets to help recreated in LEGO®

Notes to editors:

About Grand Central Rail
Grand Central Railway Company Limited is an established train operator which provides direct rail connections from towns and cities in Yorkshire and the North East England with London.

Established in 2007, Grand Central celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2017. Customer satisfaction levels are consistently high and the rail company has just been named Britain’s best value rail operator for the 6th year in a row.

Grand Central is part of the Arriva group, one of the leading providers of passenger transport in Europe. Arriva employs more than 60,000 people and delivers over 2 billion passenger journeys across 14 European countries each year.

For further information, please contact:
Sarah Banks/Anna Hodgson
PR Account Director
0191 261 4250
GrandCentral@gardiner-richardson.com
sarahb@gardiner-richardson.com