20 October 2026 •
Train operators Greater Anglia and c2c are joining forces to encourage people to break out of their everyday routines and take a day out by train, with a new campaign inviting customers to ‘Drop the Robot and Catch Some Fun Times’.
For the first time, Greater Anglia and c2c – as part of GBR Anglia – are collaborating on joint marketing activity targeted at the Southend region, where both operators serve customers travelling into London.
GBR Anglia brings c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia together under one unified leadership team, aligning track and train more closely to improve reliability, resilience and customer service across the region.
The campaign aims to inspire people across East Anglia and the Southend area to change their routine and make the most of their free time by taking a day out by train, whether that means enjoying a family trip to London, catching up with friends, visiting an attraction or simply making more of the weekend.
Built around the insight that everyday life can sometimes feel repetitive and robotic, the campaign encourages people to switch off autopilot, try something different and make time for experiences that matter.
Rather than focusing on competition between operators, the campaign has a shared objective: encouraging more people to choose rail for their leisure journeys.
Both Greater Anglia’s iconic red hare and c2c’s popular character Pip feature in the creative.
The collaboration is a practical example of how the two train operators are working together to deliver benefits for customers and support a more integrated railway.
The integrated campaign will feature across a range of media, including television, cinema and radio, alongside social media, digital advertising and outdoor posters.
Rob Mullen, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, GBR Anglia, said:
“By working together on the campaign, Greater Anglia and c2c aim to reach more people with a simple message: life is for living, and the train can help make those memorable days out happen.
“We have so many great places on our network and we would encourage people to get out there and visit one of the many great destinations we serve.”
Both Greater Anglia and c2c have a range of great value fares, and customers should book direct to avoid booking fees.
The first phase will run from 20 October until mid-November 2026, before giving way to a new Christmas campaign. ‘Drop the Robot and Catch Some Fun Times’ will return next year.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About GBR Anglia
GBR Anglia brings together c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia under one unified leadership team as part of the wider journey towards Great British Railways.
This new structure is part of wider plans to create Great British Railways (GBR), bringing track and train closer together to deliver a better, more joined-up railway for customers and communities in Anglia.
The structure is designed to support closer operational coordination across infrastructure, train services and customer delivery.
Existing ticketing and customer arrangements remain unchanged, and customers will continue to see the current company identities as the railway transitions towards GBR.
The Anglia route serves a fast-growing region, connecting commuters, leisure travellers, ports, power stations and more, as well as Stansted and Southend airports.
About c2c
- c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
- c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 37.3 million journeys are made on its services every year.
- The operation of all c2c services transferred into public ownership on Sunday 20 July 2025 and is managed by DFTO (DfT Operator Ltd).
- For more information email mediaenquiries@c2crail.net
About DFTO
- DFTO works with train operators and Network Rail to lay the foundations for Great British Railways (GBR) – working together to deliver a better railway for everyone in Britain.
- Ahead of the establishment of GBR in 2027, DFTO is responsible for bringing privately operated passenger services into public ownership, ensuring stability, accountability and continuity for customers and taxpayers.
- The group’s current train operating companies are: c2c, Chiltern Railways, Greater Anglia, GTR, LNER, Northern, Southeastern, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express and WM Trains.
- DFTO now runs 12,000 rail services every day and delivers over one billion customer journeys across its networks each year.
Images
Featured Image: Drop-the-Robot-and-Catch-Some-Fun-Times
Second Image: Drop-the-Robot-and-Catch-Some-Fun-Times
Third Image: Drop-the-Robot-and-Catch-Some-Fun-Times