It recently became the
biggest film in British cinema history, now Skyfall will be just
the ticket for train travellers.
To mark its unprecedented success at the UK box office, Skyfall
will become the first film in the UK to permanently give its name to a
train. The East Coast train was unveiled on Platform 007 at King’s
Cross Station by the stars of the 23rd James Bond
instalment, to coincide with the film’s release on Blu-ray and DVD on
Monday 18th February.
Skyfall star Naomie Harris (Moneypenny) alongside Skyfall writers Neal Purvis
& Robert Wade and co-producers Barbara Broccoli & Michael G. Wilson, officially unveiled East Coast train 91007, the London
to Edinburgh service that will be permanently named ‘SKYFALL’ and wrapped
in its stunning artwork, celebrating 50 years of classic train scenes in
Bond movies.
The unique partnership between Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment,
MGM Studios and East Coast Trains will see all eleven carriages of the
train wrapped in stunning artwork from Skyfall , with the film’s
stars and creative talent taking its maiden journey to Scotland, mirroring
Bond and M’s journey in the thrilling final act of the film.
James Bond has had no shortage of train adventures on the silver screen,
from high speed chases on locomotive rooftops in Octopussy to
fateful encounters in First Class in Casino Royale, via Roger Moore’s epic fight
with Richard Kiel’s Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me, so 007 has always
favoured life on the rails.
Skyfall’s first journey will be taken by international journalists
who will interview the stars and writers in the specially branded First
Class carriages. Skyfall Martini cocktails will be served by Savoy
mixologist Erik Lorincz, who designed the cocktail for the film, whilst
one carriage will become a dedicated Blu-ray screening lounge, where
journalists will be able to watch the film and navigate the Bonus
Features. There will be a champagne reception when the train crosses the
Royal Border Bridge in Berwick Upon Tweed, which bears a striking
resemblance to the Royal Varda Bridge featured in Skyfall’s classic
opening sequence.
Members of the public will then have the chance to ride in the Skyfall
train from Sunday 17th February, as it goes into active service on the
‘Flying Scotsman’ route from Edinburgh Waverley to London King’s Cross,
which completes the journey in just four hours.
Skyfall itself features two classic train set pieces – a thrilling
chase on the Istanbul Railway in the opening sequence, along with an epic
London Underground sequence in which a 70 tonne train literally goes off
the rails when villain Silva (Javier Bardem) wreaks havoc in the
underground network.
Skyfall is released on Blu-ray and DVD on Monday 18th February from
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and MGM Studios. |