Latest news with #WMR
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
West Midlands railway murals ask how men can stand up for women
Murals asking what men can do to tackle violence against women and girls have been put up at five railway stations in Birmingham and stations together serve more than 1.8m passengers a year and the artworks are visible from the trains passing by Midlands artist Emily Kaye, they were developed for West Midlands Railway (WMR) and London Northwestern Railway (LNR).The murals ask how men can intervene in situations including online discussions, whether they speak up to encourage positive attitudes, if they actively stand up against male violence, and whether they do enough. One artwork asks the question: "Which man are you online?"It gives several options as an answer – the man who started the thread, forwarded the photo, laughed, lurked, or made the images, or the man who reported it. Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said the rail operators' charity partner was White Ribbon UK, which advocates against violence towards women and girls, with a three-year action plan in place to raise awareness of the charity's work. Lynne Elliott, chief executive of White Ribbon UK, said: "By placing these artworks where thousands pass through daily, we're encouraging people, especially men, to pause, reflect, and consider the steps they can take."She said the charity was already working with many "brilliant, inspiring men", who were working to build a world where everyone was equal, safe and respected, adding: "We want more to join in." The artworks, commissioned by Heart of England Community Rail Partnership, can be seen at Tile Hill, Adderley Park, Hampton-in-Arden, Marston Green and Stechford stations. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gay railway station volunteer banned over gender-critical views
A gay volunteer was banned from a railway group after expressing his gender-critical views on email and social media. Matthew Toomer, 48, was thrown out of West Midlands Railway's 'Adopt a Station' scheme after he privately contacted company bosses to express concern about its 'Progress Pride' train. WMR rebranded one of its trains last summer with a 'rainbow diamond motif' that bares similarities to the Progress Pride flag, which features a yellow diamond. It was also named 'Hurst Street' after the Birmingham road at the centre of the city's Gay Village. Mr Toomer commented on a social media post about the rebranded train, asking if it would 'return to its natural state once the event is over'. In response, he was summoned to a meeting and told that his views 'do not align with [WMR's] values and mission'. He was banned from the Redditch station volunteer group. Mr Toomer said: 'As a gay man myself, I want to stress that this wasn't about objecting to visibility. My concern was the increasing tendency of public transport organisations to take visible positions on divisive issues. 'The Progress Pride flag has become associated with particular ideological stances – particularly around gender – which not everyone, including many within the LGB community, fully endorse. 'My position was simply that public services should remain neutral and welcoming to everyone.' The new train was named 'Hurst Street' ahead of Birmingham Pride last summer - West Midlands Trains The Free Speech Union (FSU), which represents the volunteer, has written to the rail operator to warn it that punishing Mr Toomer in this way 'unjustifiably restricts his freedom of expression, and that it is contrary to WMR's stated values of diversity, equality and inclusion'. Rebekah Brown, a case officer at the FSU, called on the train company to 'apologise for this vindictive decision and reinstate him'. Instead a spokesman claimed to The Telegraph that Mr Toomer's social media activity in general 'felt problematic'. The WMR spokesman said: 'Our company has a proud culture of inclusion and allyship. 'We believe the views Mr Toomer has expressed on social media on a range of subjects are at odds with these values and could be harmful or offensive to our colleagues, customers or other volunteers. 'We have therefore asked that Mr Toomer no longer volunteers on behalf of West Midlands Railway.' When asked to point out examples of allegedly 'problematic' posts by Mr Toomer, the spokesman failed to do so. 'Majority of WMR customers will agree with Mr Toomer' Ms Brown, the FSU case officer, said: 'WMR should focus on delivering a working service for their passengers, not compelling every volunteer to be a fellow traveller for corporate wokery. 'I expect the vast majority of West Midland's Railway's customers will agree with Mr Toomer, not with WMR's enforced ideological orthodoxy. 'A train company has no business acting as the arbiter of permissible opinion for volunteers, with these chilling consequences for individuals' freedom of speech in their daily lives.' Train companies' efforts to align themselves with political ideologies have caused a number of controversies. Last year Government-owned LNER prompted outrage after a senior manager trawled through a passenger's social media account to find material to justify refusing to answer her questions about the cost of a similar Pride train rebrand. Similarly, Avanti West Coast triggered a row after a racial diversity-themed 'wrapping' of one of its trains. Unlike the well-known rainbow Gay Pride flag, the Progress Pride flag is associated with the pro-transgender political movement. This campaigns for the view that men who wish to call themselves women – that is, changing their gender to become trans women – must be treated as if they had been born female. This political stance was dealt a fatal blow by the Supreme Court a few weeks ago when the country's most senior judges ruled that such trans women are not women, and are therefore not allowed to use women's facilities such as public toilets and changing rooms. Securing lawful access to such areas is a key focus of pro-transgender campaigners and lobbyists. 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.
Telegraph
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Gay railway station volunteer banned over gender-critical views
A gay volunteer was banned from a railway group after expressing his gender-critical views on email and social media. Matthew Toomer, 48, was thrown out of West Midlands Railway's 'Adopt a Station' scheme after he privately contacted company bosses to express concern about its 'Progress Pride' train. WMR rebranded one of its trains last summer with a 'rainbow diamond motif' that bares similarities to the Progress Pride flag, which features a yellow diamond. It was also named 'Hurst Street' after the Birmingham road at the centre of the city's Gay Village. Mr Toomer commented on a social media post about the rebranded train, asking if it would 'return to its natural state once the event is over'. In response, he was summoned to a meeting and told that his views 'do not align with [WMR's] values and mission'. He was banned from the Redditch station volunteer group. Mr Toomer said: 'As a gay man myself, I want to stress that this wasn't about objecting to visibility. My concern was the increasing tendency of public transport organisations to take visible positions on divisive issues. 'The Progress Pride flag has become associated with particular ideological stances – particularly around gender – which not everyone, including many within the LGB community, fully endorse. 'My position was simply that public services should remain neutral and welcoming to everyone.' The Free Speech Union (FSU), which represents the volunteer, has written to the rail operator to warn it that punishing Mr Toomer in this way 'unjustifiably restricts his freedom of expression, and that it is contrary to WMR's stated values of diversity, equality and inclusion'. Rebekah Brown, a case officer at the FSU, called on the train company to 'apologise for this vindictive decision and reinstate him'. Instead a spokesman claimed to The Telegraph that Mr Toomer's social media activity in general 'felt problematic'. The WMR spokesman said: 'Our company has a proud culture of inclusion and allyship. 'We believe the views Mr Toomer has expressed on social media on a range of subjects are at odds with these values and could be harmful or offensive to our colleagues, customers or other volunteers. 'We have therefore asked that Mr Toomer no longer volunteers on behalf of West Midlands Railway.' When asked to point out examples of allegedly 'problematic' posts by Mr Toomer, the spokesman failed to do so. 'Majority of WMR customers will agree with Mr Toomer' Ms Brown, the FSU case officer, said: 'WMR should focus on delivering a working service for their passengers, not compelling every volunteer to be a fellow traveller for corporate wokery. 'I expect the vast majority of West Midland's Railway's customers will agree with Mr Toomer, not with WMR's enforced ideological orthodoxy. 'A train company has no business acting as the arbiter of permissible opinion for volunteers, with these chilling consequences for individuals' freedom of speech in their daily lives.' Train companies' efforts to align themselves with political ideologies have caused a number of controversies. Last year Government-owned LNER prompted outrage after a senior manager trawled through a passenger's social media account to find material to justify refusing to answer her questions about the cost of a similar Pride train rebrand. Similarly, Avanti West Coast triggered a row after a racial diversity-themed 'wrapping' of one of its trains. Unlike the well-known rainbow Gay Pride flag, the Progress Pride flag is associated with the pro-transgender political movement. This campaigns for the view that men who wish to call themselves women – that is, changing their gender to become trans women – must be treated as if they had been born female. This political stance was dealt a fatal blow by the Supreme Court a few weeks ago when the country's most senior judges ruled that such trans women are not women, and are therefore not allowed to use women's facilities such as public toilets and changing rooms. Securing lawful access to such areas is a key focus of pro-transgender campaigners and lobbyists.
BBC News
03-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
World War One plaque unveiled at Wolverhampton railway station
A World War One memorial commemorating more than 60 rail workers who died has been restored at Wolverhampton railway plaque lists people who worked in the goods department of the London & Northwestern Railway (LNWR) in the Wolverhampton district and died in the Midlands Railway (WMR), which restored the memorial at the station, attended the unveiling on Friday, along with members of the Royal British Legion and city mayor Linda was originally erected at the station and thought to have been later moved to the passenger footbridge in the 1950s or 1960s, but had now now been reinstalled on the concourse, WMR said. A minute's silence to remember the lives lost was held on plaque lists staff who carried out a range of roles, including goods porters, clerks, loaders and of birth for those remembered included Walsall, Darlaston, Wolverhampton, Pedmore, Willenhall, West Bromwich, Redditch and Brownhills. Some are buried in local cemeteries, while others are also commemorated at memorial sites in France and Belgium. WMR said it worked with the Railway Heritage Trust to commission architectural signage company Lewis Howes to bring the inscription "back to pristine condition and create a bespoke hardwood frame as a backing". Head of property at WMR Robert Goode said: "It's possible that relations of these LNWR staff members are still living in Wolverhampton today. "To any who want to reach out to us, we'd be happy to host you at the station to see the plaque in person."Railway Heritage Trust director Tim Hedley-Jones said: "We are very pleased to have worked with West Midlands Railway to provide a grant to support restoration of this war memorial. "It is a fitting reminder of the sacrifice local people and railway workers made in World War One." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Train services cut over carriage spare parts delay
A number of train services between Birmingham, Hereford and Worcester are being temporarily cut, with a shortage of carriages blamed. West Midlands Railway (WMR) has halted four of its 48 daily services on these routes including a rush-hour morning train, with the changes starting on Monday and expected to last until early summer. The company was currently short of specialist parts needed to fix some carriages' wheels due to "a blip" in its supply chain, WMR public affairs manager Andrew McGill said. "Our message to customers is: Please do bear with us, we're very, very sorry for this inconvenience," he told BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester. The halted services include the 07:23 BST train from Worcester Foregate Street to Birmingham New Street, as well as the 17:50 train from Birmingham New Street to Hereford. The 19:50 train from Hereford to Birmingham New Street, plus the 22:00 service from Birmingham New Street to Worcester Shrub Hill, have also been withdrawn. Mr McGill said WMR hoped to have enough parts to begin reinstating services in June or July, but it was not yet possible to give an exact date. "These are really specialist parts" and "it's not like Tesco has run out of something and you can pop to Sainsbury's to pick up what you need," he said. Mr McGill said WMR had considered all options before withdrawing the services, adding that the company still ran several services from Worcester to Birmingham for commuters in the morning peak period. West Worcestershire MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has written to WMR and asked it to review its decision, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported on Sunday. "The rail operator has failed to deliver a fit-for-purpose train service for many years, with successive managers blaming anyone but themselves for the appalling train service," Ms Baldwin said. "I have asked the management to come up with a better plan that doesn't mean that commuters will simply stop to use the commuter service in the future." In a statement, WMR's engineering director John Doughty said the amended timetable had been brought in due to circumstances "outside of our control" and the company did not "take these decisions lightly". He added he was "very sorry" for any impact on customers. Additional reporting by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Rail services disrupted by lack of crew - operator Call for reform over decline in bus trips Councils to get cut of £30m active travel funds West Midlands Railway
