Meet Sweden's newest train: Trainy McTrainface
Will of the people triumphs as legacy of Boaty McBoatface lives on
A Swedish rail service says it will honour the public's choice and name its new engine Trainy McTrainface.
In an online poll, 49 per cent of Swedes chose the name, a reference to last year's "Boaty McBoatface" story, putting it lightyears ahead of runners-up Hakan, Poseidon and Miriam.
Trainy, who joins a fleet of newly-christened trains which includes Estelle, Glenn and Ingvar, will run between between Stockholm and Gothenburg starting this autumn.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In April 2016, the Natural Environment Research Council learned the perils of open-ended polling when they asked Brits to suggest names for their new research vessel. The runaway favourite: Boaty McBoatface.
To the outrage of the voting public, the name was rejected by the council in favour of the eminently more sensible runner up, the RSS David Attenborough.
But while the will of the people may have been thwarted by the elites in that case, in egalitarian Sweden the democratic choice has been upheld.
Rail operator MTR Express has pledged to honour the result and hoped it would "be received with joy by many, not only in Sweden".
Twitter users were delighted that Boaty's legacy lives on:
For some, it was a moment of catharsis after the lingering disappointment of the Boaty incident:
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Nigeria's worsening rate of maternal mortality
Under the radar Economic crisis is making hospitals unaffordable, with women increasingly not receiving the care they need
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
SUVs: the scourge of the streets?
Talking Point 'Hulking vehicles' are more dangerous and polluting than smaller cars but offer a sense of safety
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The 100-year-old railway Mexico hopes will rival the Panama Canal
Under the radar The route will run across Mexico's narrowest point, connecting the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Pros and cons of e-scooters
Pros and Cons Enthusiasts praise their convenience but sceptics say they are dangerous and environmentally damaging
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
China Eastern Airlines plane crash: how did disaster occur at 29,000 feet?
feature Piecing together a full picture of events ‘could take years’
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Suez Canal blockage investigators shine spotlight on Ever Given crew
feature Billions of dollars at stake as experts try to explain who or what is to blame for the cargo ship’s grounding
By Joe Evans Last updated
-
New evidence points to final resting place of missing MH370
Speed Read Findings of ocean study fuels call for reopening of search for lost Malaysia Airlines jet
By Joe Evans Last updated
-
Pakistan train fire: what we know so far
In Depth At least 70 people have been killed after a blaze ripped through a train
By Gabriel Power Published
-
British Airways pilot strike: is your holiday affected?
In Depth Airline loses appeal meaning industrial action could take place as early as this month
By The Week Staff Last updated