Avanti West Coast has unveiled a train wrapped in a bespoke artwork designed to celebrate the ethnicity of employees and communities across its network.
The “Together We Roll” wrap - a brightly coloured tapestry - was produced following an idea from Avanti frontline employees to celebrate and represent people who live and work on the West Coast Main Line with a unique train.
Created by digital artist, Baraka Carberry, who describes the design as “scenes of people, culture, colours, and joy”, the artwork stretches across all seven carriages of one of the intercity operator’s new Evero trains (set number 807010).
The initiative is underpinned by Avanti West Coast’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy which is set to be launched in the coming months and will focus on fairness, respect, diversity, inclusion and engagement in the workplace.
It will also look at advancing equality and inclusion through its work with colleagues, as well as with communities, suppliers and other organisations. This strategy will aim to achieve the Investors in Diversity accreditation.
The original idea came from Avanti West Coast staff, including Onboard Customer Service Assistant, Marvia Norman and Onboard Chef, Marcia Graver who take a prominent role in recognising cultural events, such as Black History Month, as well as celebrating Ramadan and Diwali.
The train operator chose to work with Baraka – who is based in Burton upon Trent - because of her passion and experience in celebrating culture and heritage. Following a series of workshops with frontline colleagues, she brought to life their ideas – focusing on three key themes: inclusion, coming together, and future generations.Born in Brixton, London and of Guyanese origin, Baraka, wanted to celebrate the many different cultures of Britain and connect people through “bold and unapologetic” artwork.
Reflecting on the Together We Roll train wrap, Baraka, said: “As a Black British artist, diversity and inclusion hold deep personal significance for me, making this project particularly meaningful. I envision it as a living, evolving artwork that has the potential to resonate with the public. My hope is that people will connect with the universal moments captured here and reflect on their own unique legacies.
“When we think of "legacy," we often focus on grand, monumental achievements. However, I believe it’s the small, everyday moments—sounds, sights, and notes—that build the foundation for something much greater. True legacy evolves, growing and transcending to become something larger than life.”
Baraka added: “This project is an invitation to embrace diversity, honour intergenerational wisdom, and work together towards a thriving future. It celebrates the universal moments that connect us, while honouring our distinct perspectives. We are all icons, each contributing to a shared cultural legacy.”
Evero 807010 will be introduced into passenger service this summer – completing the roll out of Avanti West Coast’s Evero fleet. To mark the Together We Roll wrap becoming a permanent part of the train operator’s fleet, a competition will be held to name the train.
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “Diversity is key to the success of any industry and creative work like this goes a long way in sparking conversations, encouraging inclusion and may inspire more people to choose a career in rail.
“We still have a long way to go until we have a railway which reflects the society we live in but Together We Roll shows Avanti West Coast’s commitment to representing more of the communities they serve, and I look forward to seeing Baraka’s artwork out on the track.”
Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Experience Director at Avanti West Coast, said: “Nothing like this has been seen on the UK’s railways, so we’re incredibly proud of this unique train and who it represents. As people are the heart of what we do, we listen and encourage talking, so we can further develop as a business and offer a place to work where colleagues feel valued and respected.“By bringing to life the vibrant communities we serve and our employees we hope to highlight the many people of different cultures, backgrounds and heritage who have a connection to the railway. Working with Baraka to represent and celebrate this has been an absolute joy and we’re excited to see this striking train take to the rails later this year.
“We recognise there’s still more to be done at Avanti West Coast and within the rail industry to have a workforce that is representative of society and the communities we serve. We are passionate about playing our part to attract talent from all backgrounds. This vibrant train marks our latest step towards this by sparking conversations about ethnicity and bringing a sense of togetherness across the west coast and beyond.”
Louise Williams, Hitachi Rail DEI and Employee Engagement Lead, said: “We were thrilled to collaborate with Avanti West Coast on the ‘Together We Roll’ livery, which beautifully reflects our shared commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“This initiative not only celebrates the rich tapestry of our communities but also underscores the importance of unity and representation in the rail industry.
“As we mark Railway 200, this project is a testament to the progress we’ve made and the future we envision. At Hitachi Rail, we believe that embracing DEI principles drives innovation and strengthens our workforce, and we are proud to support this meaningful project.”
Sonia Hazel, Ethnicity and Race in Rail, Rail Unites for Inclusion and EDI Charter for Rail, said: “This is a first for the rail industry and a fantastic step forward in giving a platform to the importance of ethnicity. I particularly love that the train wrap was borne from the ideas of staff and rolled into the introduction of a new fleet, so it remains authentic in its core.
“I hope this showcase of ethnic diversity on the West Coast Main Line captures the hearts of those who see it and encourages other train operators to think about representation in the regions they serve.”
RMT general secretary, Eddie Dempsey, said: “My union is extremely proud that our members at Avanti West Coast have directly pushed for this project to happen – celebrating the ethnicity of staff and their contribution to the running of the West Coast Main Line.“This continues the excellent work naming a train after one of our members, Asquith Xavier, the first black guard back in 1966 to work at Euston.
“We have come a long way since then and it is wonderful to celebrate the diversity on our railways.”
TSSA General Secretary, Maryam Eslamdoust, said: “The Together We Roll train wrap is a bold and vibrant celebration of the rich diversity of the communities our railways serve.
Representation matters — not just in design, but in the workplaces, policies, and leadership that shapes our transport network.
“As a union, we are committed to ensuring the railway is truly inclusive — a place where people from all backgrounds feel welcome, safe, and supported to reach their full potential. A diverse workforce is not just the right thing to strive for, it is essential to delivering the best service for passengers.“
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