This weekend, Education Team Leader Karen, visited Manchester Pride with other colleagues from across the Railway Industry.

On Saturday, she handed out 200 Stories of Railway Pride books and merchandise with Network Rail colleagues, Jake Nelson and Danielle Lahan at Manchester Piccadilly station. Afterwards, she joined other colleagues from Network Rail, Northern, Transpennine Express and TRU programme to march in the parade.

On Sunday, she joined Avanti Colleagues on the Progress Pride-wrapped Pendalino as it brought headline act, Olly Alexander up to perform from London Euston.

The journey was a full-circle moment for Avanti’s Customer Service Director, Kathryn O’Brien’s son Ciaran who had met Olly on a previous train trip to pride.

Kathryn had written about the experience in her entry for the 200 Stories project. Olly had asked Ciaran to join him and his party at Pride, but Ciaran politely declined – as he had to work! Karen reached out to Olly’s agent and asked if he’d like to write a submission himself with his thoughts of the day! Not only did Olly agree, but his manager still had a photo of the meeting on her phone!

Ciaran and Olly were able to recreate the moment on the train and this time, as he wasn’t working Ciaran finally managed to join Olly at Manchester Pride and brought his mum, partner and sister along too!

To read the full 200 Stories book: 200 Stories of Railway Pride