Latest news with #TogetherWeRoll
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Feckless Avanti bosses can't run a train on time but are splashing cash on woke murals instead of improving service
LUCKY passengers using Avanti West Coast trains now have another great reason to splash out an extortionate sum on their tickets. One of the trains has been covered from top to bottom in a mural of happy ethnic minority people. 3 3 The whole train. 'Scenes of people, culture, colours and joy,' Avanti's website gushes. It looks like a dog's breakfast to me, but there you are. The huge image is called 'Together We Roll'. Isn't that lovely? And how brave of Avanti to spend money on that. Rather than on improving their punctuality. At the end of last year Avanti West Coast had the worst punctuality record of any of the main train companies. Just two out of five of its trains managed to arrive on time. Even by our usual standards, that's a shockingly low percentage. Avanti explained that the mural was all part of their equity, diversity and inclusion programme. Really? You still have one of those? I think it is high time you got rid. But needless to say this extravagance with your money – you pay for the tickets as well as the subsidies, remember – is supported by our Labour government, whose spokesman thought it was a lovely design. The Conservative's transport spokesman Gareth Bacon put his finger on the issue though: 'Avanti West Coast can't run a train on time, but they can find the time and money for virtue-signalling nonsense." While passengers are stranded on platforms waiting for services that never show up, Avanti are busy patting themselves on the back for colourful train paint jobs. Exactly. And we're all getting just a little bit sick of it. The right-on corporate virtue signalling from big firms. Often at our expense. The showing off by police forces who paint their cars in rainbow colours to show solidarity with the gays and the trans lobby. But won't lift a finger to help when you've been burgled, or had your phone nicked in the street. The NHS with its profusion of diversity officers on more than £50,000 per year. While patients lie on gurneys in hospital corridors. It's all showing off. It's all saying we're woker than you are. And I think the British people, of whatever colour, have had enough of it. Oh, by the way, if you see Avanti's mural train, have a look at it. See if you can find a white face anywhere. I couldn't.
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
New ‘vibrant' train design to enter service this summer
A new Avanti West Coast train will be wrapped in bold artwork that celebrates the ethnicity of its operator's workforce and the communities it serves. The design, titled Together We Roll, will stretch the entire length of a new seven-carriage Evero train set to enter passenger service this summer. Digital artist Baraka Carberry, who created the work following a suggestion from the operator's frontline workers, said it shows 'scenes of people, culture, colours and joy'. Avanti West Coast customer experience director Kathryn O'Brien said: 'Nothing like this has been seen on the UK's railways. 'We're incredibly proud of this unique train and who it represents. 'By bringing to life the vibrant communities we serve and our employees, we hope to highlight the many people of different cultures, backgrounds and heritage who have a connection to the railway.' She acknowledged there is 'still more to be done' at Avanti West Coast and across the wider rail industry to have a workforce 'representative of society and the communities we serve'. She added: 'We are passionate about playing our part to attract talent from all backgrounds. 'This vibrant train marks our latest step towards this by sparking conversations about ethnicity and bringing a sense of togetherness across the west coast and beyond.' Rail minister Lord Hendy said: 'Diversity is key to the success of any industry and creative work like this goes a long way in sparking conversations, encouraging inclusion and may inspire more people to choose a career in rail. 'We still have a long way to go until we have a railway which reflects the society we live in, but Together We Roll shows Avanti West Coast's commitment to representing more of the communities they serve, and I look forward to seeing Baraka's artwork out on the track.' Carberry described the design as 'a living, evolving artwork that has the potential to resonate with the public'. She added: 'My hope is that people will connect with the universal moments captured here and reflect on their own unique legacies.' In October 2023 it named a train Asquith Xavier after the first black person to work as a guard at Euston station in 1966.
STV News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
New ‘vibrant' train design celebrates ethnicity of workforce
A train has been wrapped in bold artwork celebrating the ethnicity of its operator's workforce and the communities it serves. Digital artist Baraka Carberry, who created the work for Avanti West Coast, said it shows 'scenes of people, culture, colours and joy'. The Together We Roll design stretches across all seven carriages of a new Evero train which enters passenger service this summer. It was produced following a suggestion from the operator's frontline workers. Avanti West Coast customer experience director Kathryn O'Brien said: 'Nothing like this has been seen on the UK's railways. 'We're incredibly proud of this unique train and who it represents. 'By bringing to life the vibrant communities we serve and our employees, we hope to highlight the many people of different cultures, backgrounds and heritage who have a connection to the railway.' She acknowledged there is 'still more to be done' at Avanti West Coast and across the wider rail industry to have a workforce 'representative of society and the communities we serve'. PA Media Artist Baraka Carberry created the design. She added: 'We are passionate about playing our part to attract talent from all backgrounds. 'This vibrant train marks our latest step towards this by sparking conversations about ethnicity and bringing a sense of togetherness across the west coast and beyond.' Rail minister Lord Hendy said: 'Diversity is key to the success of any industry and creative work like this goes a long way in sparking conversations, encouraging inclusion and may inspire more people to choose a career in rail. 'We still have a long way to go until we have a railway which reflects the society we live in, but Together We Roll shows Avanti West Coast's commitment to representing more of the communities they serve, and I look forward to seeing Baraka's artwork out on the track.' Carberry described the design as 'a living, evolving artwork that has the potential to resonate with the public'. She added: 'My hope is that people will connect with the universal moments captured here and reflect on their own unique legacies.' Avanti West Coast runs services on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Scotland. In October 2023, it named a train Asquith Xavier after the first black person to work as a guard at Euston station in 1966. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Telegraph
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Woke row after train repainted to celebrate diversity
A train company has been accused of 'virtue-signalling nonsense' after repainting one of its trains in diversity-themed livery. The Avanti West Coast train has been painted in bold artwork celebrating the ethnicity of the company's workforce and the communities it serves. But Gareth Bacon, the Conservative shadow transport secretary, described the move as 'virtue-signalling nonsense' and claimed passengers deserved 'better than this farce'. Baraka Carberry, a digital artist, who created the livery for Avanti, said it depicted 'scenes of people, culture, colours and joy'. The Together We Roll design stretches across all seven carriages of a new Evero train, which is due to enter passenger service this summer. It was produced following a suggestion from the rail operator's frontline workers at Euston station, The Telegraph understands. Mr Bacon said: 'Avanti West Coast can't run a train on time, but they can find the time and money for virtue-signalling nonsense. While passengers are stranded on platforms waiting for services that never show up, Avanti are busy patting themselves on the back for colourful train paint jobs. 'This nonsense won't fix the delays, cancellations, and endless chaos that Labour have caused with their 'no-strings' pay giveaway to the unions. Passengers need functioning rail services and deserve better than this farce.' 'Proud of this unique train' Kathryn O'Brien, Avanti West Coast customer experience director, said: 'Nothing like this has been seen on the UK's railways. We're incredibly proud of this unique train and who it represents. 'By bringing to life the vibrant communities we serve and our employees, we hope to highlight the many people of different cultures, backgrounds and heritage who have a connection to the railway. This vibrant train marks our latest step towards this by sparking conversations about ethnicity and bringing a sense of togetherness across the west coast and beyond.' Lord Hendy, the rail minister, said: 'Diversity is key to the success of any industry, and creative work like this goes a long way in sparking conversations, encouraging inclusion and may inspire more people to choose a career in rail. 'We still have a long way to go until we have a railway which reflects the society we live in, but Together We Roll shows Avanti West Coast's commitment to representing more of the communities they serve, and I look forward to seeing Baraka's artwork out on the track.' Ms Carberry, who previously designed a Windrush-themed bus wraparound covering for Transport for London, described the Avanti train livery as 'a living, evolving artwork that has the potential to resonate with the public'.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Woke row after train repainted to celebrate diversity
A train company has been accused of 'virtue-signalling nonsense' after repainting one of its trains in a diversity-themed livery. An Avanti West Coast train has been 'wrapped' in bold artwork celebrating the 'vibrant' ethnicity of the company's workforce and the communities it serves. Gareth Bacon, the Conservative shadow transport secretary, described the move as 'virtue-signalling nonsense' adding that passengers deserved 'better than this farce'. Baraka Carberry, a digital artist, who created the livery for Avanti, said it showed 'scenes of people, culture, colours and joy'. The Together We Roll design stretches across all seven carriages of a new Evero train due to enter passenger service this summer. It was produced following a suggestion from the operator's frontline workers at Euston station, The Telegraph understands. But Mr Bacon said: 'Avanti West Coast can't run a train on time but they can find the time and money for virtue-signalling nonsense. 'While passengers are stranded on platforms waiting for services that never show up, Avanti are busy patting themselves on the back for colourful train paint jobs. 'This nonsense won't fix the delays, cancellations, and endless chaos that Labour have caused with their 'no-strings' pay giveaway to the unions. 'Passengers need functioning rail services and deserve better than this farce.' Kathryn O'Brien, Avanti West Coast customer experience director, said: 'Nothing like this has been seen on the UK's railways. 'We're incredibly proud of this unique train and who it represents. 'By bringing to life the vibrant communities we serve and our employees, we hope to highlight the many people of different cultures, backgrounds and heritage who have a connection to the railway.' She added: 'This vibrant train marks our latest step towards this by sparking conversations about ethnicity and bringing a sense of togetherness across the west coast and beyond.' Lord Hendy, the rail minister, said: 'Diversity is key to the success of any industry and creative work like this goes a long way in sparking conversations, encouraging inclusion and may inspire more people to choose a career in rail. 'We still have a long way to go until we have a railway which reflects the society we live in, but Together We Roll shows Avanti West Coast's commitment to representing more of the communities they serve, and I look forward to seeing Baraka's artwork out on the track.' Ms Carberry, who previously designed a Windrush-themed bus wraparound covering for Transport for London, described the Avanti train livery as 'a living, evolving artwork that has the potential to resonate with the public'. She added: 'My hope is that people will connect with the universal moments captured here and reflect on their own unique legacies.' Last year, state-owned East Coast Main Line operator LNER provoked a row after accusing a passenger of 'transphobia' for asking questions about a Gay Pride-themed train livery. A senior LNER manager trawled through Carol Fossick's social media posts to justify the accusation, despite admitting the company spent £58,000 on the paintwork. Avanti declined to comment on the cost of its diversity train livery. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
