South Western Railway launched UK's first Intersex-Inclusive Pride Train

SWR is the first operator to use the flag on one of its trains

SWR with Intersex-Inclusive Pride Train
Published 28th Mar 2023

South Western Railway (SWR) has become the first operator to use the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag on one of its trains.

The Class 444 train launched yesterday (27 March), to show solidarity and support with it's LGBTQIA+ customers, colleagues and community.

On it's first run with the new design, the train was crewed exclusively by LGBTQIA+ SWR colleagues, after being revealed at London Waterloo yesterday.

Valentino Vecchietti and SWR Pride Network with flag

You can spot the train operating on the South West Main Line between London Waterloo and Weymouth, as well as travelling through Greater London, Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset.

SWR Intersex-Inclusive Pride train design

The new livery was applied to a Class 444 train at the Bournemouth Depot over the weekend and entered service yesterday.

SWR revealed its inaugural ‘Trainbow’ train with a Pride flag livery in 2019 ahead of Southampton Pride, the annual event that SWR first sponsored in 2017 and will sponsor for 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Over the years, the rainbow Pride flag, a symbol of the LGBTQIA+ people, has been developed and updated with the sole focus of promoting inclusity and celebrating diversity.

American activists Amber Hikes and Daniel Quasar respectively incorporated black and brown stripes for black and minority ethnic people and light blue, light pink, and white stripes for transgender people to create the ‘Progress Pride’ flag.

In 2021, British intersex equality campaigner Valentino Vecchietti redesigned the Progress Pride flag to include the intersex flag, a purple ring on a yellow background, to create the ‘Intersex-Inclusive Pride’ flag which SWR has used.

Valentino Vecchietti signs flag

Senior leaders from SWR revealed the train's new design yesterday, and were joined by LGBTQIA+ colleagues, and Valentino Vecchietti - the flag's creator.

SWR’s Managing Director, Claire Mann, and Chief Operating Officer, Stuart Meek were all at the launch.

Claire Mann and Valentino Vecchietti

Valentino Vecchietti, creator of the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag and founder of Intersex Equality Rights UK, commented:

“The Intersex-Inclusive Pride train means so much to the LGBTQIA+ community and to our families, friends, and allies. I created intersex visibility on our global Pride flag to bring joy to my community, and also to raise awareness that intersex people in the UK and worldwide are typically not included in census data collection, equality protections or hate crime legislation.

“The umbrella term ‘intersex’ describes the natural diversity in sex characteristics. Sex characteristics are distinct from gender identity and sexual orientation but are all connected through the sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) human rights framework, which is reflected in the new flag.”

Valentino Vecchietti in driver cab

Stuart Meek, Chief Operating Officer of South Western Railway, commented:

“It is wonderful to have this train proudly flying the flag for equality on our network, furthering inclusion with the new Intersex-Inclusive flag design, and visibly showing our support for LGBTQIA+ colleagues and customers.

“SWR is one family, and we are committed to fostering a sense of togetherness and standing up for all of our customers and colleagues, and all of the communities we serve.”

Valentino Vecchietti, driver Mike Fretter, and Stuart Meek

Bryce Hunt, Weymouth Station Manager and Chair of South Western Railway’s Pride Network, commented:

“Being proud of who you are is the opportunity to be openly expressive, loving, and honest. Our commitment to our colleagues and customers is that they can be unafraid of their true self and be met with understanding and support. Our Pride Network has released this new livery which shows our full commitment to the communities we serve internally and externally.”

Bryce Hunt on train

You can now see the inclusive Pride Train across the SWR network, on their South West Main Line, into the Pride season.

SWR Pride Bunting

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