Alstom, East Midlands Railway, and Nottingham Express Transit (NET) have come together to unveil a special livery for one of Nottingham’s trams that celebrates Pride and the LGBTQ+ community.

A stylish rainbow design – or ‘trambow’ – has been applied to Tram 213, which can be seen on both of Nottingham’s light rail lines interchange with East Midlands Railway services at Nottingham, Bulwell and Hucknall stations.

“Notts Pride” is on Saturday, 27 July, and before then the three organisations are encouraging everyone to ‘Ride with Pride’, and emphasising that they offer journeys and careers where everyone is welcome and can be their true selves.

The organisations are also promoting Nottingham’s public transport system as being more eco-friendly and sociable than using the car.

Tram 213 was one of the first of Nottingham’s trams and was built by Alstom at its factory in Derby. In 2018, Alstom UK and Ireland founded a group for LGBTQ+ staff called Voices of Pride+, which aims to empower everyone to be their most authentic self in the workplace.

East Midlands Railway also has its own network of employee groups. One of these is called Stronger Together, and is designed to better represent its LGBTQ+ employees and promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Notts Pride is the East Midlands’ biggest free Pride event. It is a volunteer-run charity that celebrates Nottinghamshire‘s LGBTQ+ community and ensures its voices are heard.

Alstom, East Midlands Railway, and Nottingham Express Transit employees will be among more than 7,000 other LGBTQ+ people marching in this month’s Notts Pride Parade.

Pride month is also being celebrated by other train operators, including London North Eastern Railway and TransPennine Express.

As a core transport provider for the city, our new ‘Ride with Pride’ tram is a vibrant symbol of our commitment to the spirit of diversity and inclusion in Nottingham.

Across our network, we’re always working to make our trams a safe space for all our customers, including the LGBTQ+ community. During July, we’re excited to be celebrating Nottinghamshire’s LGBTQ+ community through our eye-catching new design, in collaboration with our partners Alstom and EMR, as we continue our dedication to equality and acceptance both across our network and the wider city.

Sarah Turner, Service Delivery and Safety Director and EDI Lead at Nottingham Express Transit

Alstom is proud to collaborate with EMR and NET to bring our vibrant ‘trambow’ to Nottingham’s streets in celebration of Pride. Tram 213’s new look is a statement of our collective commitment to diversity, inclusion and the right of every individual to be their authentic self – either as a fare-paying passenger or a colleague.

By riding with Pride together, we not only celebrate the LGBTQ+ community but also promote a more inclusive public transport system across the East Midlands and beyond. We look forward to marching together at Notts Pride, symbolising unity and our shared journey towards nurturing a more fair and equal society.

Peter Broadley, Services Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom

“We are proud to be part of this initiative celebrating Pride and the LGBTQ+ community. The ‘trambow’ is more than just a colourful design; it’s a powerful symbol of inclusivity and acceptance.

At EMR, we strive to create a welcoming environment for everyone, whether they are traveling with us or working within our teams. This collaboration with Alstom and NET highlights our commitment to diversity and the importance of visibility and support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Carl Rowland, Accessibility and Inclusion Delivery Manager at East Midlands Railway