People living with dementia and their carers can enjoy live entertainment, hand massages, and a safe space to connect on a specially reserved train carriage travelling from Whitby to Middlesbrough on Wednesday.
People living with dementia and their carers will find a safe space, live entertainment, and therapeutic support on a dedicated train service.
The Forget Me Not Train has officially returned to the Whitby to Middlesbrough route, offering a unique environment for those affected by the condition to relax and connect with others.
Passengers travelling on the specially reserved carriage are treated to live music, sing-alongs, and even hand massages from a clinical therapist. The initiative provides a crucial opportunity for carers to swap stories, share ideas, and exchange phone numbers while their loved ones enjoy the scenic rail journey.
While the service operates on a standard scheduled train, the dedicated carriage transforms into a lively and supportive community hub. The presence of the Dave Clegg duo, playing the piano and bass, brings a musical element that encourages passengers to engage with their surroundings and each other.
Lisa Williams from the Esk Valley Rail Partnership explained how the service operates alongside regular passenger journeys:
"Yeah, it is the normal train, but we reserve at least one carriage for everyone traveling on the Forget-Me-Not Train. And we have a fabulous Dave Clegg duo on board who sing and play the piano and bass all the way to Middlesborough and back. They play songs that everybody can relate to and everybody can sing along to and it's it's lovely to see people suddenly recognizing the music and joining in. It's great and the feet start tapping and then they start singing along. And we even have dancing in the aisles, which is lovely. It's really nice to see."
The success of the local service on the Whitby route has prompted efforts to expand the concept to other parts of the rail network. Seeing the profound impact that a safe, musical, and socially engaging space has on both dementia sufferers and their carers, organisers are now working to help other groups replicate the supportive environment.
By compiling the lessons learned from the Whitby to Middlesbrough service, the partnership hopes to inspire a nationwide rollout of dementia-friendly carriages. The addition of clinical therapists and the emphasis on carer networking have proven to be vital components of the journey.
Lisa added:
"We're trying to push it out more and more. There's two or three um community rail partnerships that are now picking up and and running with it, but what we are trying to do now is we're trying to do a how-to guide, which we will then send out across the country to explain how, you know, how how other community rail partnerships can get this going because it is important. The train gives a safe space for people. So anyone living with dementia and their carers can come on board and have a relaxing time. They can swap stories as well, which I think is equally important for the carers, and they swap phone numbers and ideas, and we also have somebody come on board now as well who's a clinical therapist, so she does hand massages."
The initiative continues to demonstrate how community partnerships can creatively utilise everyday transport to deliver meaningful support and moments of joy to vulnerable people on the Yorkshire Coast and beyond.
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