The Invictus Games Foundation and London Northwestern Railway have unveiled a specially branded train that will “carry the name and spirit of the Invictus Community across the UK rail network.”

The Spirit of Invictus train was officially unveiled on Platform 16 at London Euston by broadcaster, veteran and Invictus Games competitor JJ Chalmers on. Its launch came after a public competition that invited people to nominate a name “celebrating courage, resilience and service, reflecting the enduring spirit of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans around the world.”

London Northwestern Railway said the newly branded train represented a landmark partnership between itself and the Invictus Games Foundation, bringing the Invictus Games’ message to millions of passengers each year.

The train will be in service across the London Northwestern Railway network calling at major destinations including Birmingham, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Watford and London Euston.

London Northwestern Railway added that as it travels across the network, the train will serve as a moving reminder of the power of recovery, community and the unconquered human spirit – and of the upcoming Invictus Games Birmingham 2027.

Since the first Invictus Games in London in 2014, the Invictus Movement has grown into a global community supporting the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans through the power of sport. Today, the Foundation works year-round with an expanding community of nations, helping create opportunities for connection, belonging and recovery long after military service has ended.

Jonny Wiseman, Customer Experience and Commercial Director, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway, said: “The staging of the Invictus Games in Birmingham is a hugely significant moment for both the city and the country. We are proud to partner with the Invictus Games Foundation to unveil ‘The Spirit of Invictus’ which we hope will inspire customers to learn more about the Invictus Movement.

“We were delighted to welcome more than twenty ex-servicepeople from our own company to today’s launch, including the driver and guard who operated its first journey. With more than a million passengers using our services every week, this distinctive train will fast become a feature of the railway in the lead up to the Birmingham Invictus Games and beyond.”

Helen D’Oyley, Chief Growth Officer, Invictus Games Foundation, said: “Today is about far more than unveiling a train. It’s about taking the Spirit of Invictus beyond our events and into communities across the country. Every day, thousands of people will see this train, travel on it, or pass it in stations across the London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands network. Each journey is another opportunity to spark curiosity and start conversations about the incredible resilience of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans”.

Helen Helliwell, Chief Executive of the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, said: “Birmingham is the destination for many from across the UK and our allies, with countless wounded, injured and sick service personnel beginning their recovery journey here.

“It is only fitting that the Spirit of Invictus will arrive at the heart of our campus at the NEC Birmingham, which will proudly host the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027.”

The unveiling comes as excitement continues to build towards the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, when the UK will once again welcome the international Invictus Games community, more than a decade after the inaugural Games were held in London.

The Invictus Train is part of the Class 350 Desiro fleet with the unit number 350111. It will operate across the London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway networks.