20 March 2003
New train named to honour Donald Dewar
The First Minister, Rt Hon Jack McConnell MSP, today named one of Strathclyde Passenger Transport's new Juniper trains in honour of the first First Minister Donald Dewar.
Together with Mr Dewar's children Mr McConnell unveiled a name plate on unit 001 of 40 new class 334 Juniper trains.
Cllr Eric Ross, Chair of SPT, and Peter Cotton, Managing Director of ScotRail, joined the First Minster at the naming ceremony.
First Minister Jack McConnell MSP unveiled the name plate on unit one saying: "Donald Dewar was committed to building a better Scotland, and dedicated his life to public service. So I am delighted to be here today to unveil another tribute to our first First Minister.
"I am sure Donald would have been proud that this train will carry his name through his home city of Glasgow, and throughout Strathclyde region. I would like to thank Scotrail and SPT for giving us this opportunity to remember the contribution Donald made to Scottish life."
Cllr Eric Ross, Chair of SPT, joined Mr McConnell saying: "For some time SPT wanted to honour Donald Dewar and we could think of no better way to do this than naming unit number one of our fleet of brand new Juniper trains after the late first First Minister.
"Over the years SPT had a close relationship with Donald and of course his constituency is in the area that we cover. Now our state-of-the-art Juniper trains make frequent stops at Anniesland rail station meaning that for many years to come the Donald Dewar train will be making frequent visits to the area that he used to represent.
"We have presented Jack McConnell with a copy of the name plate which we hope will eventually make its way on to the walls of the new Scottish Parliament building, to join a similar name plate from the train named after the late John Smith. Donald unveiled the name plate on the John Smith train and requested that it hang in the Scottish Parliament and it seems entirely appropriate that both should now be honoured in this way.
Peter Cotton, Managing Director of ScotRail, said: "ScotRail is delighted that Juniper number 001, the very first unit in a £120 million fleet of new electric trains, is being named after Scotland's very first First Minister. There are forty trains in this fleet, one for every year that Donald Dewar spent in politics. Number 001 will carry his name around Strathclyde for another 40 years or so, reminding us all of his eminence in Scotland."
ends