Tuesday 20 Aug 2024
Manchester Piccadilly welcomes the LGBTQ+ community and allies to Manchester this Pride weekend
- Region & Route:
- North West & Central
- | North West & Central: North West
Network Rail staff are proud to join Manchester’s Pride celebrations, with most railway lines into Manchester open over the August bank holiday.
Over 300,000 passengers are expected to travel into Manchester this weekend (23-26 August 2024) for the city’s annual Pride festival and other events over the bank holiday.
Volunteers from Network Rail’s North West route and members of Network Rai’s LGBTQ+ employee Network, Archway, will be at the station to welcome Pride-goers and hand out must-have railway branded merchandise.
Over 40 Network Rail volunteers will be joining the Pride parade on Saturday 24 August, along with colleagues from TransPennine Express, the TransPennine Route Upgrade and industry partners.
Phil James, Network Rail’s North West route director, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming the LGBTQ+ community and allies to travel to Manchester’s Pride festival weekend by rail. It is an honour to have so many members of staff marching in the annual parade.
“Our volunteers will be at the station to welcome you and hand out some freebies. Although most lines are open over the bank holiday, there is engineering work between Stoke-on-Trent and Macclesfield. Please check before you travel as we’re expecting services to be busy.”
Archway, Network Rail’s LGBTQ+ network has over 1400 members and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Manchester Piccadilly is set to be especially busy over the August bank holiday weekend, as festival-goers and sports fans head by rail to destinations such as Creamfields, Leeds festival, the start of the Premiere League football and cricket at Old Trafford.
Passengers at Manchester Piccadilly are also being reminded to check before they travel as work to install new netting to the station roof continues. Work will continue until October and during this time, some platforms will be closed and trains diverted to alternative platforms.
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