South Western Railway (SWR) has celebrated the ‘adoption’ of Vauxhall Station by its Pride Network of LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies and the national health and wellbeing charity LGBT HERO.
Vauxhall is one of London’s busiest stations, with over 13 million entries and exits annually, and is the first major station in the UK adopted by an LGBTQ+ group.
The area is well known for its strong links to the LGBTQ+ community. Almost one in ten residents identify as LGBTQ+ and South London’s oldest gay venue, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, is among the many destinations just moments from the station.
The adoption of Vauxhall is part of SWR’s All Aboard campaign to end all discrimination and abuse against customers and colleagues on the railway and encourage anyone who experiences such behaviour to report it to the British Transport Police.
A 2023 report by London TravelWatch on the experiences of LGBTQ+ people travelling in the capital revealed that 82% change their behaviour or appearance to avoid abuse. It also found that one in five experienced hate crimes on the transport network in the past year, echoing a survey by LGBT HERO in Lambeth, with 84% not reporting the incidents.
Among its 12 recommendations, the watchdog called for greater collaboration between transport operators, decision-makers and police authorities, including working with trusted third parties in the LGBTQ+ community.
A commemorative plaque and artwork by local LGBTQ+ artists was unveiled at the station on Thursday 24 October, joined by MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, Florence Eshalomi.
Stuart Meek, interim managing director of South Western Railway, said: “Stations aren’t simply about getting from A to B; they should involve, reflect and serve their local community — and celebrate everything that makes a community special.
“We’re incredibly excited to have LGBT HERO and our own Pride Network colleagues adopting Vauxhall, a station that could not be more appropriate with the area’s thriving and longstanding links to the LGBTQ+ community.
“We launched our All Aboard campaign because everyone should feel safe and respected while travelling on the transport network, and no one should ever face discrimination or abuse. By working together in partnerships such as this, we can make a real difference for customers, colleagues and communities across our region.”
Ian Howley, chief executive of LGBT HERO, said: “We’re incredibly excited to partner with South Western Railway. Lambeth is a vibrant and diverse borough, but we need to address rising anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime. Our partnership is about more than symbolic gestures — it’s about real action and creating spaces where everyone, especially LGBTQ+ people, feel safe and valued.
“In addition to our presence in Vauxhall station, South Western Railway is joining Lambeth Allies to ensure the highest level of service and security for LGBTQ+ people on the network. Together with South Western Railway, we’re making Lambeth a place where diversity is celebrated, and no one faces hate or discrimination.”
Find out more about SWR’s work in the community here.
