Nottingham’s first tram with rainbow design debuts ahead of Pride celebrations in the UK city
Nottingham’s first tram with rainbow design debuts ahead of Pride celebrations in the UK city
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Special tram livery encourages passengers and colleagues to ‘Ride with Pride’
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Alstom, EMR and NET colleagues will be marching together in the 2024 Notts Pride Parade
8 July 2024 – Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has teamed up with rail operator East Midlands Railway (EMR) and tramway Nottingham Express Transit (NET) to unveil a special tram livery to celebrate Pride and the LGBTQ+ community.
NET’s Tram 213 now carries a stylish rainbow design – or ‘trambow’ – which can be seen running on both of the city of Nottingham’s light rail lines, where it will interchange with EMR heavy rail services at Nottingham, Bulwell and Hucknall stations.
“Alstom is proud to collaborate with EMR and NET to bring our vibrant ‘trambow’ to Nottingham’s streets in celebration of Pride. Tram 213’s new look is a statement of our collective commitment to diversity, inclusion and the right of every individual to be their authentic self – either as a fare-paying passenger or a colleague”
Ahead of Notts Pride on Saturday July 27, the three organisations are encouraging everyone to ‘Ride with Pride’ – stressing that they offer journeys and careers where everyone is welcome, can be their true selves and excel. They are also promoting the region’s public transport system as a means by which to arrive at Notts Pride in style, while being more eco-friendly and sociable than driving solo.
“Alstom is proud to collaborate with EMR and NET to bring our vibrant ‘trambow’ to Nottingham’s streets in celebration of Pride. Tram 213’s new look is a statement of our collective commitment to diversity, inclusion and the right of every individual to be their authentic self – either as a fare-paying passenger or a colleague,” said Peter Broadley, Services Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom.
He added: “By riding with Pride together, we not only celebrate the LGBTQ+ community but also promote a more inclusive public transport system across the East Midlands and beyond. We look forward to marching together at Notts Pride, symbolising unity and our shared journey towards nurturing a more fair and equal society.”
Tram 213 was built by Alstom at Derby Litchurch Lane Works as part of the first fleet of 15 vehicles for NET, which were manufactured between 2002 and 2003. Ahead of the Nottingham network being expanded in 2015, Alstom also built 22 Citadis trams and the company continues to maintain all 37 vehicles from the Wilkinson Street depot.
The tramshed in Basford has two maintenance roads – one of which is powered – a sanding road and a wheel lathe on the unpowered road. The depot also has a tram wash and four stabling roads.
“As a core transport provider for the city, our new ‘Ride with Pride’ tram is a vibrant symbol of our commitment to the spirit of diversity and inclusion in Nottingham,” said Sarah Turner, Service Delivery and Safety Director and EDI Lead at NET.
She added: “Across our network, we're always working to make our trams a safe space for all our customers, including the LGBTQ+ community. During July, we’re excited to be celebrating Nottinghamshire’s LGBTQ+ community through our eye-catching new design, in collaboration with our partners Alstom and EMR, as we continue our dedication to equality and acceptance both across our network and the wider city.”
In 2018, Alstom UK and Ireland founded its own employee resource group for LGBTQ+ staff and their allies – Voices of Pride+ – with its aim to empower everyone to be their most authentic self in the workplace.
As the UK’s leading supplier of new rolling stock and train services, various Alstom vehicles carry a ‘trainbow’, including EMR’s Class 158 Express Sprinter 158773, Avanti West Coast’s Class 390 Pendolino 390119 and West Midlands Railway’s Class 730 Aventra 730018 – named ‘Hurst Street’ in honour of Birmingham’s Gay Village. Several of the 147 Alstom-built trams for Manchester Metrolink also carry a ‘trambow’.
Meanwhile, Stronger Together is one of six employee network groups within EMR set up to better represent its LGBTQ+ employees, as well as promoting diversity and inclusion in their workplace.
“We are proud to be part of this initiative celebrating Pride and the LGBTQ+ community. The ‘trambow’ is more than just a colorful design; it’s a powerful symbol of inclusivity and acceptance,” said Carl Rowland, Accessibility and Inclusion Delivery Manager at East Midlands Railway.
He added: “At EMR, we strive to create a welcoming environment for everyone, whether they are traveling with us or working within our teams. This collaboration with Alstom and NET highlights our commitment to diversity and the importance of visibility and support for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Volunteer-run charity Notts Pride organises the biggest free Pride event in the UK’s East Midlands, which celebrates Nottinghamshire’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community and ensure its voices are heard. For 2024, Alstom, EMR and NET will be marching in the Notts Pride Parade together, joining more than 7,000 other LGBTQ+ people and allies.
