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# Update: backlash against Avanti’s Pride train
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/update-backlash-against-avantis-pride-train/
- Published: 2020-08-27T11:09:01.000Z
- Updated: 2020-08-27T11:09:01.000Z
- Description: Avanti West Coast trains has faced a large volume of backlash after their new LGBTQ+ Pride themed train made its first journey from London to Manchester on August 25.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: Features & Longread, News, Out & About, Queer Corner, Travel, LGBTQ, Pride, UK News

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/uk-pride-train-600400-1.jpg)

**Avanti West Coast** trains have faced backlash in the wake of its news LGBTQ+ Pride themed train making its [first journey](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/uk-pride-train-makes-first-journey/) from **London** to **Mancheste**r on **August 25** as several thousand **Twitter** users have shared their dislike of the train. The rainbow-painted train with all LGBTQ+ crew members was described as regressive by some users believing it overly highlighted difference between the LGBTQ+ community and cisgender/heterosexual people.

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

**John James McGivern** of Sky News [tweeted](https://twitter.com/JohnJMcGivern/status/1298216652585283585?ref=scenemag.co.uk) ‘as a gay man, I don’t want a ‘pride train’’ and added ‘please stop the identity politics’. The tweet amassed over 9,000 likes with many users agreeing, [saying](https://twitter.com/MattHemes/status/1298402595460046851?ref=scenemag.co.uk) they were ‘tired of divisive stunts when all we want is equality’.

Avanti West Coast has not responded to the criticism but [said](https://twitter.com/AvantiWestCoast/status/1298158442075639818?ref=scenemag.co.uk) the train symbolises its ‘commitment to diversity and inclusion’. Others have also responded positively to the Pride train, with people [describing](https://twitter.com/TheQueerGuy/status/1298337766795874304?ref=scenemag.co.uk) it as ‘amazing’. One user also [said](https://twitter.com/druzif/status/1297909742745124865?ref=scenemag.co.uk) that the backlash is the ‘reason we still need Pride’.

Although the train will not always be staffed by LGBTQ+ workers, it will become part of Avanti’s regular train fleet and continue to make journeys across the **UK**.

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