Intersex Train on SWR

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South Western Railway launches first intersex inclusive train​

A train operator that serves Dorset has launched the UK's first-ever Intersex-Inclusive Pride train to show support for LGBTQ+ staff and customers.

The newly decorated train will travel between Weymouth and London Waterloo.
The new livery was applied to a Class 444 train at the Bournemouth Depot over the weekend and entered service yesterday, Monday, March 27.
On its first run, the newly designed train was crewed exclusively by LGBTQ+ staff......

Full article here: https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2...lway-launches-first-intersex-inclusive-train/

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I’ve definitely seen the transgender/intersex pink and blue flag displayed on a train before. I think the Avanti pride 390 has it, so I’m not sure they’re correct in saying its the first.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I presume this is the current Pride-liveried Desiro (444019), just with further enhanced Intersex-branding?

 

[AlterEgo]

I’ve definitely seen the transgender/intersex pink and blue flag displayed on a train before. I think the Avanti pride 390 has it, so I’m not sure they’re correct in saying its the first.

Surprisingly, Avanti's "Progress" train doesn't have the intersex circle on it. I had to check it myself.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Surprisingly, Avanti's "Progress" train doesn't have the intersex circle on it. I had to check it myself.

Aha mystery solved - the Scotrail 334 does. I knew I’d seen it on a train before.

 

[Nick Ashwell]

I’ve definitely seen the transgender/intersex pink and blue flag displayed on a train before. I think the Avanti pride 390 has it, so I’m not sure they’re correct in saying its the first.

The trans pride flag is separate to the intersex pride flag, as pointed out by AlterEgo it's a circle, purple on yellow background.

Also to be a pedant there also isn't the trans pride flag on the train, it's the over arching pride flag which also includes HIV awareness (the black arrow stripe)

 

[alxndr]

Aha mystery solved - the Scotrail 334 does. I knew I’d seen it on a train before.

Does it? I can't see any photos which show the intersex (yellow and purple circle) part, just the standard Progress flag (rainbow + white/pink/blue/brown/black).

 

[Alanko]

I prefer trains that run on time and I like affordable fares. I'm not sure why increasingly niche, tiny demographics need such broad-brush representation.

If the various issues with railway operations were solved in this country then fair enough, but this is window dressing.

 

[supervc-10]

If you were a marginalised member of that 'niche, tiny demographic' then you might think otherwise. Try other people's shoes sometimes, it's eye opening.

Anyway - Kudos to SWR for their inclusivity! I think it looks good and is a nice way to show inclusivity across all people who work on SWR and use their services.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I prefer trains that run on time and I like affordable fares. I'm not sure why increasingly niche, tiny demographics need such broad-brush representation.

If the various issues with railway operations were solved in this country then fair enough, but this is window dressing.

If you were a marginalised member of that 'niche, tiny demographic' then you might think otherwise. Try other people's shoes sometimes, it's eye opening.

Anyway - Kudos to SWR for their inclusivity! I think it looks good and is a nice way to show inclusivity across all people who work on SWR and use their services.

What worries me is when LGBTQ or whatever minority start getting blamed for the distractions from running a good service for EVERYBODY.

 

[Russel]

I prefer trains that run on time and I like affordable fares. I'm not sure why increasingly niche, tiny demographics need such broad-brush representation.

If the various issues with railway operations were solved in this country then fair enough, but this is window dressing.

I have to agree with this.

The railway needs to concentrate on running a reliable, consistent service and resolving the 12 month long industrial dispute before rolling out the virtue signalling.

 

[GusB]

For goodness sake, it's a bit of coloured vinyl stuck on to the side of a train. It's not going to make a significant difference to the performance of the train, or make it run ten minutes late on a permanent basis.

Will those people who constantly accuse companies of virtue signalling kick up a similar fuss as November approaches and various vehicles are wrapped up as giant poppies, or when the monarch celebrates their next jubilee?

 

[Russel]

For goodness sake, it's a bit of coloured vinyl stuck on to the side of a train. It's not going to make a significant difference to the performance of the train, or make it run ten minutes late on a permanent basis.

Will those people who constantly accuse companies of virtue signalling kick up a similar fuss as November approaches and various vehicles are wrapped up as giant poppies, or when the monarch celebrates their next jubilee?

Sorry, but I really don't see the point of it.

The commuters that use this train daily have just seen their fares go up by over 5% overnight, yet there is spare cash for vinyl, which, given its the railway, will have probably cost several thousand pounds.

 

[Bigfoot]

The irony here is the government gets the fare money. The tocs are paid by the government to run the service. How they spend that money is up to them.

This most of this thread bar a few posts is very negative towards everyone being accepting of all whoever they are.

I didn't see the same level of outrage after SWR had a naming ceremony for a 444 recently. That will also have cost more than a pound.

 

[davews]

I was upset by the trains painted to support NHS etc during the lock down. These woke nonsense things annoy me even more. SWR really have lost the plot.

 

[InkyScrolls]

I prefer trains that run on time and I like affordable fares. I'm not sure why increasingly niche, tiny demographics need such broad-brush representation.

If the various issues with railway operations were solved in this country then fair enough, but this is window dressing.

Seconded.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2023 ==

I have to agree with this.

The railway needs to concentrate on running a reliable, consistent service and resolving the 12 month long industrial dispute before rolling out the virtue signalling.

Seconded.

 

[Revilo]

Why do train companies have to engage in this nonsense imported from America? Such stunts only increase division and disharmony, by giving everyone a label and seeing them only though the lens of their gender, race, disability etc, rather than as individuals. Why is this particular group of people any more worthy of support than any other minority?

 

[ComUtoR]

Sorry, but I really don't see the point of it.

That's a shame

yet there is spare cash for vinyl, which, given its the railway, will have probably cost several thousand pounds.

I wouldn't worry about the vinyl. You need to remember the costs of design, installation, the cost of the press day, staff release, photographer, new lanyards, track access charges for the special service, changes to internal communications for the updated pic.

Probably a loss in revenue too for the more ignorant who's morale outrage will extend to not boarding this train or using a company who supports such a good cause.

I wouldn't worry about the positive press to help bring people back to the railway. The boost it brings to those who will feel a little more included and recognised. The help it will bring for those who feel they need to hide or to people like me who see a a 'trainbow' on the side of their train as they step in and it brings a smile, to an otherwise awful day.

 

[Nick Ashwell]

Why do train companies have to engage in this nonsense imported from America? Such stunts only increase division and disharmony, by giving everyone a label and seeing them only though the lens of their gender, race, disability etc, rather than as individuals. Why is this particular group of people any more worthy of support than any other minority?

Imported from America?

As a member of the community you couldn't be further from the truth. If you were attacked in the street on a regular basis you wouldn't say bull like that.

What has been imported from America is an absolute load of hatred and nasty beliefs

 

[m0ffy]

LGBTQ+ people are not a “tiny niche” Section of the population - we’re somewhere between 5 and 10% and rising. We also have a government hellbent on rolling back the progress we’ve made over the last 20 years, and who have a specific hatred of trans, intersex, and gender non-confirming people.

 

[DarloRich]

I prefer trains that run on time and I like affordable fares. I'm not sure why increasingly niche, tiny demographics need such broad-brush representation.

If the various issues with railway operations were solved in this country then fair enough, but this is window dressing.

I have to agree with this.

The railway needs to concentrate on running a reliable, consistent service and resolving the 12 month long industrial dispute before rolling out the virtue signalling.

Sorry, but I really don't see the point of it.

The commuters that use this train daily have just seen their fares go up by over 5% overnight, yet there is spare cash for vinyl, which, given its the railway, will have probably cost several thousand pounds.

I was upset by the trains painted to support NHS etc during the lock down. These woke nonsense things annoy me even more. SWR really have lost the plot.

Imagine being so insecure that a sticker frightens you. What are you scared of? What will the nasty sticker do to you? Are you worried you might catch "wokiness"?

 

[Alanko]

LGBTQ+ people are not a “tiny niche” Section of the population - we’re somewhere between 5 and 10% and rising. We also have a government hellbent on rolling back the progress we’ve made over the last 20 years, and who have a specific hatred of trans, intersex, and gender non-confirming people.

The same percentage as left handed people then... where is our flag? We don't get one because our identity has nothing to do with our genitalia, what we want to do with our genitalia and how we want to be addressed as while using our genitalia.


It says a lot about the atomisation of society when you have to hang your entire identity off of one metric, then browbeat everybody else into celebrating with you.

 

[InkyScrolls]

The same percentage as left handed people then... where is our flag? We don't get one because our identity has nothing to do with our genitalia, what we want to do with our genitalia and how we want to be addressed as while using our genitalia.


It says a lot about the atomisation of society when you have to hang your entire identity off of one metric, then browbeat everybody else into celebrating with you.

Hear hear!

 

[Intercity110]

what’s inter-sex? Is it like trans-gender?

 

[Alanko]

Imagine being so insecure that a sticker frightens you. What are you scared of? What will the nasty sticker do to you? Are you worried you might catch "wokiness"?

"Everybody I disagree with is insecure". Brilliant logic on display there.

 

[DarloRich]

"Everybody I disagree with is insecure". Brilliant logic on display there.

The things is PR fluff yet you and others seem triggered by a sticker. It is no threat to you or your way of life. Just let it wash over you and spend your emotional energy on something actually worth worrying about.

 

[InkyScrolls]

Left-handers have experienced centuries of repression, including being burnt at the stake - why aren't they represented in government, or on the sides of trains?

The fact is that the vast majority of the modern population doesn't care whether you're black or white, gay or straight, etc. - but quite a few do, not unreasonably, object to their taxes being spent on trying to 'convert' the few racists/homophobes/whatever who do still exist - because that's a lost cause not worth wasting effort on, and trying to force them to accept something they're deadset against is only going to harden that mindset.

 

[Magdalia]

I worked in management for 25 years. When I started it was virtually impossible to be openly gay in most working environments. For gay people that has changed a lot, for trans people it can still be quite difficult.

What SWR are doing here is a simple and effective way to demonstrate that they are an employer that embraces diversity and inclusion. Look at the picture in #1: the train livery is for and about the people in the picture, and their colleagues, both present and future.

Customers will benefit, because SWR as an employer needs to recruit and retain staff from the widest possible talent pool. Most of those employees, present and future, are going to be millenials and genzees, not grumpy old boomers. Some of them are going to need reassurance that SWR is a safe and welcoming place to work, and that's who SWR are aiming at with this message.

There are three reasons that make this a particularly good time for SWR to be doing this:

• they are hopefully coming to the end of a period of difficult industrial relations, and this is part of engaging with existing staff and rebuilding morale
• demographic changes mean that the employment market is very tight and this event, by demonstrating that SWR is an employer that embraces diversity and inclusion, will have a positive impact on recruitment and retention
• the recent Casey Report on the Metropolitan Police has shone a spotlight on what it is like in an institution that does not embrace diversity and inclusion, and every sane employer is going to want to differentiate themselves from that.

 

[m0ffy]

what’s inter-sex? Is it like trans-gender?

Intersex people are born with multiple primary sex characteristics, eg, testes and ovaries.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2023 ==

But left-handers have experienced centuries of repression, including being burnt at the stake - why aren't they represented in government, or on the sides of trains?

Are left handed people routinely threatened with violence for being left handed? Is the government threatening to ban the discussion of left handed existence in schools? Is the press vocally opposed to left handed people?

 

[birchesgreen]

The things is PR fluff yet you and others seem triggered by a sticker. It is no threat to you or your way of life. Just let it wash over you and spend your emotional energy on something actually worth worrying about.

Too many people seem to be addicted to being offended by something these days.