Win free rail travel with GTR as rail operator launches exciting social media competition

Following last year’s success, the exciting social media competition from Southern, Thameslink, and Great Northern—run by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR)—is back to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway.

The contest, dubbed Destination Dash, will see 10 lucky winners each receive free travel with a point-to-point return journey of up to 200 miles on Thameslink, Southern, or Great Northern services.

Going live on Saturday 15th February, participants will be asked to back either #TeamSouthern, #TeamThameslink or #TeamGreatNorthern as employees from each brand take on thrilling challenges from Stevenage and Peckham Rye, all the way down to Hastings and Eastbourne.

To make things more competitive, GTR colleagues will team up with social media stars in the race across the network. Morgan M-James, whose TikTok account boasts over one million followers, will join Team Southern. Team Thameslink will feature Lou Lou Explores, known for her vibrant travel adventures, while Team Great Northern partners with Vaguely Mundane, renowned for his engaging transport content.

The epic challenge culminates in an unforgettable finale at The Odyssey in St Albans City, where the winning team will be crowned!

This year, the competition celebrates Railway 200, marking 200 years of the modern railway. The competition follows new research which shows that 67% of TikTok users have searched TikTok for something travel-related that they’re interested in doing or visiting, making this competition even more exciting for viewers and participants alike.¹

Louis Rambaud, Chief Customer Officer at Govia Thameslink Railway, said: "We’re thrilled to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway with this exciting competition. It’s a fantastic way to highlight the incredible destinations across our network, while giving viewers and participants a window into the joy of rail travel. To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, all you need to do is back a team. Make sure to keep an eye on our social media channels, so you don’t miss out!”

To enter, participants must follow @southernrailuk, @tlrailuk, and @gnrailuk on Instagram. They then need to comment on a dedicated Instagram post (going live on Saturday 15th February) using #TeamThameslink, #TeamGreatNorthern, or #TeamSouthern to share who they think will win The Dash.

Entries close at 23:59 on Sunday, 16th February. Viewers can watch their chosen teams compete in the challenges, with updates shared across each brand’s Instagram and TikTok accounts until Thursday, 20th February.

Ten winners will be announced on Thursday, 20th February and will receive an eTicket prize for a point-to-point return journey of up to 200 miles on Thameslink, Southern, or Great Northern services.

-ENDS-