A TRAIN named after champion gymnast Beth Tweddle will be unveiled in Liverpool today.

She will become the latest sports star to have her name emblazoned on the front of a Virgin Pendolino train.

The 26-year-old athlete, who has an MBE, will be at Lime Street station today to see her No 390022 arrive from London.

Last night she said she hoped it will be her “lucky charm” as she prepares for next year’s Olympics.

Virgin Trains is sponsoring the travel of a number of sportsmen and women who hope to represent their country in upcoming major sporting events.

Beth, who announced she will retire after the 2012 Games, said: “It is not just about the competition but also the preparation and lead-up, so being able to travel on my namesake will be my lucky charm.

“I have been fortunate enough to receive many awards and commendations throughout my career. I train to win gymnastic medals and so it will be a real honour to win an Olympic one on home turf.”

The Virgin Trains sponsorship initiative, called Supporting British Athletes, provides crucial travel for sportsmen and women.

It enables the sports stars to attend training camps, key competitions and championships up and down the country.

In her 10-year career, Beth – who is a three-times world champion – has won more titles and medals than any other British gymnast.

The City of Liverpool Gymnastics Club member, who learned her craft at the Camm Street gym in Crewe, has gone on to become one of the greatest European gymnasts of all time.

After competing in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, Beth now has hopes of making it onto the podium in 2012.

Gary Iddon, general manager of Virgin Trains in Liverpool, said: “We think it is fantastic that Beth has agreed to have one of our trains named after her.

“As such a well-known athlete, we take great pride in being able to help Beth on her journey to the record books and wish her all the best of luck in her upcoming competitions.”

The initiative is supported by Alstom, which built and maintains Virgin’s Pendolino train fleet.

Richard Woodroofe, Alstom Transport UK’s mainline operations director, said: “We are delighted to support this initiative with Virgin Trains.

“We identify with the determination and commitment needed by the athletes to deliver top performance and wish Beth well for the exciting challenges ahead.”

Virgin Trains has also announced that its rail tickets are already on sale for spectators going to the Olympic Games.

Extra late-night and some early-morning trains will be operating during the extravaganza.