THE first of Transport for Wales’ (TfW) brand new £800m fleet of trains was officially launched by minister Lesley Griffiths at a ceremony in Llandudno.
This unveiling took place at the town's railway station on Thursday, January 26.
The new Class 197 trains, which were built in Wales, offer leather seats, modern air conditioning systems, wider doors and customer information screens.
They provide an increase in capacity and will allow TfW to run faster and more frequent services to destinations such as Holyhead, Fishguard and Liverpool.
Ms Griffiths, minister for North Wales and MS, said: “This made-in-Wales fleet signals an important improvement to rail services and I’m sure passengers will enjoy travelling across North Wales lines on the Class 197s.”
During the event, attendees met Tabitha Shields - a year five pupil at Ysgol Tudno in Llandudno who had picked as one the winners of TfW's Magnificent Train Journey competition [to name the TfW' brand new £800m Class 197 fleet].
Tabitha's winning entry was ‘Happy Valley'.
The schoolgirl said: "The entry said that we could do a picture, story or a poem and I decided to do a poem and decided we should name the train Happy Valley."
When asked why she chose Happy Valley, Tabitha smiled and replied: "I can't remember."
She said seeing the name 'Happy Valley' on the train and witnessing the unveiling had been "exciting".
"I was like woo," she added.
"My friends have been like 'Tabitha, you are famous.'"
When asked how she felt about seeing the name 'Happy Valley' on the train for many years to come, she said: "I feel like.. oh gosh, this is like fabulous."
Cllr Carol Marubbi, mayor of Llandudno, attended the event.
"To share this day [this milestone day] with everyone is absolutely fantastic," she said.
"There is so much momentum because of it being Happy Valley and in Llandudno, we have got a Happy Valley and we are very proud of it. And one of our local children, to name the train, it is absolutely wonderful. I'm so proud of the school for all their input and all the people coming to support this wonderful venture. I think there is going to be lots and lots of people coming on this train and to be one of the first in North Wales, it is brilliant.
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"The decor inside is brilliant, they haven't skimped on that, the carpet, seating is lovely and disabled access is excellent. They have thought it through regarding disabled people. You have to ask for a ramp, but that is just a minor thing."
James Price, Transport for Wales CEO, carried out a speech at the ceremony.
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