A landmark first for the West Coast Main Line
Avanti West Coast has taken the wraps off (and then promptly put fresh ones on) Evero unit 807010, unveiling Britain’s first inter-city train livery dedicated to ethnicity and cultural inclusion. Branded “Together We Roll,” the seven-car set is now wearing a kaleidoscopic vinyl designed to showcase the people and communities that power the West Coast Main Line.
From staff idea to 180-metre moving artwork
The project originated with frontline colleagues Marvia Norman (On-Board Customer Service Assistant) and Marcia Graver (On-Board Chef), who wanted a visible way to mark events such as Black History Month, Ramadan and Diwali. Avanti brought in Burton-upon-Trent digital artist Baraka Carberry—herself of Guyanese heritage—to translate workshop ideas into a single, wrap-around tapestry of “people, culture, colours and joy.”
Three core themes guide the livery
| Theme | How it appears on the train |
|---|---|
| Inclusion | Interlocking silhouettes of passengers and staff from a spectrum of ethnic backgrounds |
| Coming together | Flowing ribbon motifs linking carriage to carriage, symbolising communities along the WCML |
| Future generations | Youthful figures looking forward, representing the next wave of rail talent |
Part of a wider EDI strategy
“Together We Roll” acts as the launchpad for Avanti West Coast’s forthcoming Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) strategy, which targets Investors in Diversity accreditation and places fairness, respect and engagement at its core. The operator is also working with supply-chain partners, including Hitachi Rail, to embed EDI principles across maintenance and manufacturing.
Passenger debut and naming competition
Evero 807010 is slated to enter passenger service this summer, completing the 805/807 Evero roll-out. Avanti will shortly open a public naming competition.
Industry reaction
- Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy: hailed the wrap as a catalyst for conversations that could draw a broader talent pool into rail.
- Rail Unites for Inclusion: praised the livery as “a first for the industry” and urged other operators to follow suit.
- RMT & TSSA unions: welcomed the initiative, noting its links to past diversity milestones such as the naming of a Pendolino after Asquith Xavier.
Why it matters for the depot, the driver’s cab and the diaspora
With Railway 200 celebrations focusing on rail’s heritage, “Together We Roll” turns attention to its future workforce. Ethnically representative teams have been shown to improve safety culture, customer experience and innovation—key metrics for operators chasing Great British Railways’ revenue-risk contracts.
Key take-aways for Railway Prune readers
- Marketing lever: Expect Avanti to deploy the livery heavily across social media and station events—spot-and-share campaigns will boost brand reach.
- Fleet note: 807010 remains technically identical to sister Everos; the wrap adds negligible weight and no maintenance complications, according to Hitachi Rail.
- Passenger impact: High-visibility vinyl should improve way-finding for visually impaired customers, an unintended but welcome accessibility win.
