Campaigners have raised concerns regarding a new promotional design from Avanti West Coast, a major UK train provider. The campaigners claim that the company’s use of images depicting wheelchair users fails to accurately represent the actual experience of traveling with a disability.
The design, created by digital artist Baraka Carberry, features vibrant scenes across all seven carriages of the new Evero train, which allegedly has a lower carbon footprint than the previous models. One design includes two female wheelchair users appearing to enjoy a journey together. However, the standard class on these trains only accommodates one wheelchair user, meaning two wheelchair users would need to travel on separate trains.
Alice Maynard, a lifelong wheelchair user and former head of disability strategy at Railtrack, highlighted the discrepancy between the promotional imagery and the reality faced by wheelchair users. Maynard expressed her belief that enhancing the number of wheelchair spaces on trains would be more effective than merely showcasing appealing designs that do not reflect the existing limitations.
Anne Wafula Strike, a Paralympian and advocate for enhanced accessibility in public transport, also criticized the imagery, questioning the feasibility for couples or friends who are both wheelchair users to travel together on these services. She emphasized the challenges that disabled individuals face in public transport, stating that the current reality is not equitable.
In response, an Avanti West Coast spokesperson affirmed that there has been no reduction in the number of wheelchair spaces on their trains and that the new designs celebrate diversity among their workforce and customers. The spokesperson acknowledged the concerns raised by Maynard regarding the imagery but emphasized the company’s commitment to inclusivity.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/15/avanti-accused-of-virtue-signalling-without-virtue-over-wheelchair-user-art