A
Great
Western
Railway

Intercity
Express
has
been
named
for
Cyril
Bleasdale.
He
was
the
first
director
of
InterCity
in
the
early
1980s
and
then
moved
on
after
his
retirement
from
British
Rail
to
help
found
the
company
which
bought
the
BR
staff
newspaper
Railnews.

Railnews
continues
today
as
the
industry’s
trade
newpaper,
with
more
than
100,000
readers.

Cyril,
who
lived
on
the
GWR
network
in
Cheltenham,
served
as
managing
director
of
Railnews
until
a
year
before
his
death
in
2022
at
the
age
of
87.

His
name
was
unveiled
on
platform
8
at
London
Paddington
by
his
wife
Katy,
before
the
newly-named
train
left
Paddington
at
12.35,
bound
for
Exeter.

She
said:
‘Cyril
would
have
been
so
proud
to
have
this
train
named
in
his
honour
and
I
would
like
to
thank
GWR
managing
director
Mark
Hopwood
and
all
those
who
have
helped
to
make
it
happen.’

Great
Western
Railway
managing
director,
Mark
Hopwood
paid
his
own
tribute:
’At
Great
Western
Railway,
we
have
a
long
history
of
naming
trains
after
Great
Westerners,
the
past
and
present
heroes
from
across
our
network.

‘Cyril
Bleasdale’s
legacy
continues
to
shape
railways.
Today’s
naming
recognises
a
lifetime
of
innovation,
leadership,
and
unwavering
commitment
to
the
railway
and
what
it
delivers
for
the
communities
we
serve.

‘Cyril
was
a
true
railway
pioneer.
His
vision
helped
modernise
rail
travel
for
millions
and
we
are
proud
to
honour
his
extraordinary
contribution
with
this
train
naming.’

Cyril
Bleasdale’s
innovations
included
changing
the
title
of
Second
Class
to
Standard,
as
well
as
launching
Executive
Express
services
from
Paddington
to
Bristol,
pioneering
on-board
telephones
and
opening
First
Class
lounges.

Do
you
have
a
comment
on
this
story?
Please
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send
an
email
to
Platform
at
Railnews.