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# Avanti’s Pride train named ‘Progress’ by bisexual engineer
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/avantis-pride-train-named-progress-by-bisexual-engineer/
- Published: 2020-10-14T10:15:25.000Z
- Updated: 2020-10-14T06:59:55.000Z
- Description: Avanti West Coast’s Pride themed train, which is the first of its kind in the UK, has been titled Progress after railway engineer Edward Hitchon Godfrey submitted the name idea.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: Community, In The South, Information, News, Pride, Queer Corner, Travel, LGBTQ

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/uk-pride-train-600400.jpg)

**Avanti West Coast’s** Pride themed [train](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/uk-pride-train-makes-first-journey/), which is the first of its kind in the **UK**, has been titled **Progress** after railway engineer **Edward Hitchon Godfrey** submitted the name idea. Avanti[ tweeted](https://twitter.com/AvantiWestCoast/status/1315218801080913920?ref=scenemag.co.uk) a video of openly bisexual Godfrey explaining the significance of Progress and the importance the Pride train has to him. He said: *“Trainbows, Pride Trains and \[LGBTQ+ inclusive\] events gave me, a closeted bisexual man, the feeling of support within the industry I love, to come out at work, and to challenge prejudiced views. Winning this competition has solidified my sense of belonging and given a real boost to my confidence in my identity.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/progress-pride-train-1.jpg)

He continued: *“To me, the name ‘Progress’ embodies both a celebration of where we have got to as an industry and as a society, and a recognition that we’re not there yet – that there’s still work to be done.”* Progress made its first journey in August and since then has become part of Avanti’s regular fleet. The company’s executive director, **Sarah Copley**, said the Pride train was a symbol of the company’s ‘commitment to diversity and inclusion’.

Avanti received [backlash](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/update-backlash-against-avantis-pride-train/) from some who believed the train overly highlighted the differences between the LGBTQ+ community and heterosexual/cisgender people, however many [praised](https://twitter.com/TheQueerGuy/status/1298337766795874304?ref=scenemag.co.uk) the ‘amazing’ train. Godfrey said the Pride train was a risk as it was likely Avanti would be accused of ‘do-gooding’ but argued it provided him with the courage to ‘challenge prejudice in the workplace’.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pride-train-view-600-400.jpg)