World's first pride on rails!

Posing in front of the Pride Pendolino

We did it! The brain-child of Alstom's Ben Goodwin and the delivery left in the capable hands of our own Pip Armstrong yesterday witnessed the world's first pride parade on rails at The railway 200 Greatest Gathering in Derby. We did a shout out across the Journey membership to find transport industry-based performers, and were delighted to get Felicia aka Lee, Connie aka Alex and Madusa aka Tony literally on board.

Felicia (left) and Connie getting a helping hand from Pip with their train

In a climate of LGBTQ+ rights being eroded both in the UK and abroad, yesterday sent out an important message that LGBTQ+ people are safe and welcome in the transport industry, as colleagues and as customers.

Parading along the Pride-wrapped Class 345 (Elizabeth Line train)

The queens were led to the Pride Pendolino by Ben with a noisy entourage from across UK transport, proudly sporting Journey t-shirts and whistling all the way, we stopped for a photo opportunity in front of the train and then in the cab, and then proceeded to the test track to the pride-wrapped Elizabeth Line Class 345, back where it was born at Litchurch Lane. We paraded up the train past gleeful members of the Greatest Gathering crowd, thus making history, and Ben made a public address announcement to mark the event.

Connie (L), Madusa (C) and Felicia (R) with Joe and Matt from Journey behind

Huge thanks to Ben and Pip, the performers Lee, Alex and Tony, and to all of the Journey members who came along and made it so special.