Lego fans are invited to jump on a train named in honour of Legoland's 30th anniversary.

Legoland Windsor is marking its 30th year, and South Western Railway is joining the festivities by unveiling its Arterio train, christened the LEGOLAND Locomotive, at Waterloo station.

The vibrant train, adorned with a lively Lego-inspired design, was unveiled alongside the character 'Brick Suit Girl' at the station before setting off for Windsor and Eton Riverside - the primary station for families journeying to the renowned theme park.

The LEGOLAND Locomotive embodies the mutual sense of creativity and thrill that both rail travel and Lego offer to generations of children and families.

The celebration also signifies a substantial milestone for SWR's £1billion Arterio fleet, which now runs over 500 services daily across the suburban network.

Over 30 additional Arterios have been in regular service since SWR transitioned to public ownership last year, offering 50% more capacity than the trains they replace, thereby revolutionising travel across London and the South West suburban network.

Fiona Eastwood, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, said: "The unveiling of this LEGOLAND Locomotive is the perfect way to celebrate 30 years of LEGOLAND Windsor Resort.

"The route brings families to Merlin destinations, from LEGOLAND at one end to our South Bank attractions including the London Eye at the other and Thorpe Park along the way.

"Thanks to South Western Railway, guests can leave their cars at home and enjoy memorable visits to a number of Merlin locations both on this route and beyond."

Ramesh Ganeson, Merlin's Vice President of the Legoland Windsor Resort, expressed: "This is a fantastic addition to the 30th birthday celebrations.

"Not only can families look forward to travelling on our Hill Train at the Resort, but they can now begin their LEGOLAND adventure earlier in the day by boarding the eclectic LEGOLAND locomotive to experience an awesome journey of play and creativity, making memories to last a lifetime."

James Wale at South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex, commented: "With more than 500 services operated by our Arterio fleet each day, customers across our network are feeling the benefits of these game-changing new trains - whether they're travelling into London or heading over to Windsor for a day at Legoland.

"Naming one of our trains the LEGOLAND Locomotive celebrates the idea that train travel is more than simply getting A to B.

"The railway connects people with places they love - and the journey is all part of the adventure.

"The Legoland Locomotive and our partnership with Legoland is a fantastic way to mark a major milestone for one of the network's most popular attractions and highlight the important role rail plays in connecting communities with great destinations across our region."

Parenting specialist and writer Rachel Kelly emphasised the significance of creative play in youngsters' development.

Rachael said: "There's plenty of research about the importance of creativity in children for their psychological wellbeing and health.

"Train journeys provide the ideal time and opportunity for imaginative play.

"Being absorbed in things like doodling, drawing, building with LEGO or simply looking out the window to watch the world go by induces a 'flow state', similar to mindfulness, where stress hormones reduce and positive hormones like dopamine increase.

"Train journeys can provide precious, uninterrupted time away from screens and everyday distractions allowing both children and parents to slow down, setting up families up for a fun-filled day out."

South Western Railway (SWR) Rewards offers 1/3 off 1-day entry tickets to the Legoland Windsor Resort when you travel by train, for more information visit the website here.