London North Eastern Railway has revealed a new named and full liveried train as Pride celebrations get underway.
The Azuma train will call at more than 50 stations, including Harrogate.
Featuring eight LGBTQ+ flags, the train was revealed today to coincide with the start of Pride month.
Named ‘Together’, it celebrates LNER’s support of Pride activities as well as the company’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.
An LNER press release said the name “champions the unification of all communities which LNER is proud to support”.
David Horne, managing director at LNER, said:
“It’s a momentous occasion for everyone at LNER to be unveiling the first full liveried Azuma in celebration of Pride ahead of our summer of supporting Pride events on our route.”
LNER will be supporting Pride events in York, Edinburgh and London this month on the east coast route.
The flags included on the train are the intersex-inclusive progress pride flag, the transgender pride flag, the bisexual flag, the trans-inclusive gay men’s flag, the lesbian pride flag, the pansexual pride flag, the nonbinary pride flag and the asexual pride flag.
Read more:
- Harrogate district rail strikes to hit half-term holiday travel
- Councillor outlines plans for new train station in Harrogate
Drag queen visits care home to celebrate Pride 2021
Residents at The Manor House care home in Knaresborough have celebrated Pride Month with a drag queen belting out hits in their garden.
Miss Bailey Bubbles entertained the residents with showtunes, songs made famous by Doris Day and a few Abba hits.
Carer Alison Morgan said:
“After a long year of covid restrictions at the home it was lovely to share laughter with the residents with our first live entertainment in the garden since last year.”
(Left-right) Care home staff Jo Meredith, Leigh Rudzinski and Hanna Wilks dressed for Pride
Residents June Sharp and Kath Topping agreed. They said:
“It was very different to anything we’ve seen before but we loved it.
“It was a fun afternoon and Bailey took time to speak to all of us afterwards.”
Care home staff Katie Victoria Pickering and Ali Morgan with a Pride rainbow flag
The residents also enjoyed rainbow-inspired art therapy sessions, quizzes and games of bingo. They also helped dress the home and garden with bright, rainbow-themed decorations.
Katie Victoria Pickering, who organised the activities, said:
“The residents embraced the day and everything it stands for, they were happy to be involved in the lead-up and event itself.”
Read more: