Eurostar Group, the backbone of sustainable travel in Europe, has erected a three-meter structure depicting the Progress Pride flag to greet nearly 50,000 customers from the Continent to London this weekend (29 June – 1 July 2023), during the London Pride celebrations. The 200-flower flag also signifies Eurostar’s collaboration with The National Railway Museum to chronicle and preserve LGBTQ+ history in rail travel.
Diversity is ingrained in Eurostar’s DNA. As a global train operator, Eurostar connects countries and cultures, enabling its commuters to cross borders in a single journey. The National Railway Museum has partnered with Eurostar to document intergenerational interviews with members of the LGBTQ+ community to honour and educate all those who identify as LGBTQ+ and work in the rail industry. This is part of the museum’s recently funded People, Pride & Progress initiative to preserve LGBTQ+ rail histories for the future.
The National Railway Museum’s Archivist, Ashlynn Welburn, explains, “Our recently funded initiative, made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will produce up to seventy oral history interviews with individuals from the rail industry, including Eurostar. We intend to document the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, including Eurostar employees, in order to close a knowledge deficit in the rail industry. We are thrilled that so many people will be travelling by rail to London Pride this year, utilising a network that has provided LGBTQ+ individuals with access to a larger community.”
Eurostar Group CEO Gwendoline Cazenave states, “Eurostar Group connects consumers to Prides across Europe. Our business reflects the diverse cultures and communities of our cities. We are extremely pleased to support the National Railway Museum’s initiative to preserve the LGBTQ+ history of the rail industry for future generations.”
During London Pride weekend, customers can take photographs with the floral Pride flag that will be on the Eurostar platform at St Pancras.
Source: traveldailymedia