London Pride 2023: TfL celebrates with rainbow buses and trains

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a campaign celebrating the city’s LGBTQ+ community ahead of the Pride parade this weekend.

Posters spotlighting Drag Race’s Bimini, stylist Gok Wan, DJ and writer Nick Grimshaw and dancer Queen MoJo will feature across the TfL network.

As well as showcasing TfL’s diverse workforce, staff members have expressed their Pride creativity through designs, poems and craftwork

TfL’s whiteboard posters in various stations are being adorned with quotes from LGBTQ+ books, such as “Soft Lad” by Nick Grimshaw.

A number of TfL services including a London bus, a London Overground train, an Elizabeth line train and an Underground engineering train have been wrapped in a rainbow design.

Customers using the route 63 bus between Honor Oak and King’s Cross can already see the design which has been on display since mid-June.

The London bus with the Pride design will also accompany people representing TfL in the Pride in London parade on Saturday July 1.

Customers using the London Overground between Richmond/Clapham Junction and Stratford and Dalston/Highbury & Islington to West Croydon/Crystal Palace/New Cross will be able to ride in the special trains.

The Elizabeth line train, wrapped at both ends of the train, will be travelling between Shenfield and Reading and Heathrow through central London stations from Friday June 30.

Deputy mayor for transport Seb Dance said: "As London’s Pride celebrations approach, I’m delighted that we are once again using the TfL network to celebrate our fantastic LGBTQ+ communities. From sharing the stories of Londoners to wrapping trains in this distinctive livery, we are joining together to show the world that in London we celebrate our diversity."

London night czar Amy Lamé said: "Our LGBTQ+ communities make an enormous contribution to life in our capital and this year’s campaign across the transport network is a wonderful way to celebrate that.  Across the globe too many people still face prejudice because of who they are, and we are seeing very troubling efforts to stifle hard won rights, so it is more important than ever that we stand together in solidarity and celebration."

Bimini, a drag artist who is part of the campaign, said: “It’s incredible and amazing to highlight people’s experiences of being part of the LGBTQ+ community because it’s not always easy for everyone. If you’re younger and you see people speaking about what they’ve been through, it makes you feel seen and heard.”

TfL urges anyone who experiences or witnesses a suspected hate crime to report it to the police immediately.

People can report incidents of abuse and harassment including suspected hate crime by texting 61016 for incidents on the Tube and rail or calling 101 for incidents on buses or streets. In an emergency or if the suspect is still on scene, they should call 999