Woke Art on the Rails: Avanti’s Diversity Trains Spark Debate Over Priorities

[Social Media]

 

A newly unveiled train design by Avanti West Coast has ignited a national debate, with some praising the celebration of diversity and others dismissing it as political woke posturing. The rail operator recently revealed its latest livery—a striking, colourful artwork painted across all seven carriages of one of its new Evero trains. The design, titled Together We Roll, aims to reflect the ethnic diversity of the company’s workforce and the communities it serves.

 

Digital artist Baraka Carberry, the creator of the artwork, described it as a celebration of “scenes of people, culture, colours and joy.” The design, which will begin service this summer, was born out of a suggestion from Avanti’s frontline staff based at London’s Euston station. Carberry, who also designed a Windrush-themed bus for Transport for London, called the project “a living, evolving artwork that has the potential to resonate with the public.”

 

 

Despite its positive intentions, the initiative has been met with political criticism. Gareth Bacon, the Conservative shadow transport secretary, labelled the move as “virtue-signalling nonsense.” He added, “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.”

 

 

Avanti, however, defended the move as an important cultural and community-building gesture. Kathryn O’Brien, Avanti’s 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.”

 

Government support also came from Lord Hendy, the rail minister, who viewed the initiative as a step in the right direction. “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.”

 

Avanti has declined to comment on the cost of the new livery, leaving some critics to question the balance between symbolic gestures and practical service delivery. Nonetheless, the train will soon roll out across the UK’s rail network, a moving canvas of cultural pride—whether seen as progress or provocation.

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph  2025-05-01

 

 

[Mike_Hunt]

This warms my heart. 

[RuamRudy]

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

Gareth Bacon, the Conservative shadow transport secretary, labelled the move as “virtue-signalling nonsense.” He added, “Avanti West Coast can’t run a train on time, but they can find the time and money for virtue-signalling nonsense.

 

If only his party, when in government, hadn't been so ideologically driven that they had to flog off everything of value, we might actually have a rail network we could be proud of. 

[Bkk Brian]

A UK first. The first trains that identify as trans....

[Watawattana]

I hope the cost of this was borne by the organisation/people promoting Windrush commemoration.

[RuamRudy]

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

A UK first. The first trains that identify as trans....

 

Where in the story is there any mention of transgender issues? 

[RuamRudy]

1 minute ago, Watawattana said:

I hope the cost of this was borne by the organisation/people promoting Windrush commemoration.

 

Avanti is a publicly listed Scottish/Italian owned company - how they choose to spend their money is their concern. 

[MisterTee]

5 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Where in the story is there any mention of transgender issues? 

It's part of the woke package... ain't it?

[RuamRudy]

2 minutes ago, MisterTee said:

It's part of the woke package... ain't it?

 

Is there a 'woke package'? What's in it? Where can I get mine?

[Bkk Brian]

37 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Where in the story is there any mention of transgender issues? 

Transgender trains have rights! 😅

[thesetat]

3 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Transgender trains have rights! 😅

Yes, that will be the next argument. Rights for Equipment... 

[Chomper Higgot]

Can’t even brighten up a train with some art without triggering a sullen grievance fest.

 

Some folk are only happy when they’re miserable.

[coolcarer]

11 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Can’t even brighten up a train with some art without triggering a sullen grievance fest.

 

Some folk are only happy when they’re miserable.

Chomper I agree, but you digress and leave out that this is not just a new  brightening up of a train with some art. Its a real celebration of the Diversity of the actual staff who work for Avanti "Together we Roll" 

 

How dare anyone have different opinions on what the money could have been better spent on. That just won't do at all. #Diversity!!!

 

By the way, who are these people who are only happy when they are miserable?

 

Back to the celebration and this joins their special Pride train that was already rolled out a few years back with its first trip staffed by a LGBTQ+ crew. More wonderfull #Diversity!!!!

 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, coolcarer said:

Chomper I agree, but you digress and leave out that this is not just a new  brightening up of a train with some art. Its a real celebration of the Diversity of the actual staff who work for Avanti "Together we Roll" 

 

How dare anyone have different opinions on what the money could have been better spent on. That just won't do at all. #Diversity!!!

 

By the way, who are these people who are only happy when they are miserable?

 

Back to the celebration and this joins their special Pride train that was already rolled out a few years back with its first trip staffed by a LGBTQ+ crew. More wonderfull #Diversity!!!!

 

It’s a private business and can do as it pleases with its money, on this occasion that seems to have been responding to its staff, which is no bad thing.

 

Diversity is with us, always has been. It’s good to see it being celebrated.

 

 

[nauseus]

24 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s a private business and can do as it pleases with its money, on this occasion that seems to have been responding to its staff, which is no bad thing.

 

Diversity is with us, always has been. It’s good to see it being celebrated.

 

 

 

They might do better by responding to its customers and investing in them instead.

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, nauseus said:

 

They might do better by responding to its customers and investing in them instead.

Maybe they consider the artwork a message of welcome to their diverse customer base.

[coolcarer]

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Maybe they consider the artwork a message of welcome to their diverse customer base.

Like their Pride train? more diversity the better. 

[coolcarer]

51 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s a private business and can do as it pleases with its money, on this occasion that seems to have been responding to its staff, which is no bad thing.

 

Diversity is with us, always has been. It’s good to see it being celebrated.

 

 

Yes it’s a private business well done Chomper. So happy to hear you recognize the reason for the paint job was diversity this time, hopefully time will not be a factor in their timetable adherence. Be happy.

 

15 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Can’t even brighten up a train with some art without triggering a sullen grievance fest.

 

Some folk are only happy when they’re miserable.

 

[Social Media]

@josephbloggs you post was removed:

 

 

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[nauseus]

9 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Maybe they consider the artwork a message of welcome to their diverse customer base.

 

Maybe, but if I was a passenger I'd be more concerned about reliability and time-keeping.

[Chomper Higgot]

14 minutes ago, coolcarer said:

Like their Pride train? more diversity the better. 

In a word, yes.

[coolcarer]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

In a word, yes.

Absolutely, they can do what they want with the money they raise from their customers. #Pride

[Yagoda]

How come there are no white Englishman in the art? Or even a St Georges cross? Not diverse in England i guess

[WDSmart]

I love it! ❤️

[Bkk Brian]

7 minutes ago, WDSmart said:

I love it! ❤️

I wonder if their customers do.

[blaze master]

I support the latest cause. 

[josephbloggs]

13 hours ago, Yagoda said:

How come there are no white Englishman in the art? Or even a St Georges cross? Not diverse in England i guess

Wow, you inspected both sides of the length of the train!! Amazing, did you get access to the depot? How does it look?

And the West Coast Main Line services Scotland as well, so why would you expect a St George's Cross? Just looking for something to be upset about?