Dementia-Friendly Train Service Secures Funding Boost Ahead of Next Whitby Excursion

A dedicated train service supporting people living with dementia and their carers has received a £1,000 financial boost ahead of its next departure from Whitby.

A dedicated train service supporting people living with dementia and their carers has secured a £1,000 financial boost ahead of its next departure from Whitby.

The Forget-Me-Not train, operated by the Esk Valley Railway, will leave Whitby station at midday on Wednesday, October 21st. The service offers a supported environment for passengers, featuring live music from the Dave Clegg Duo, complimentary hand massages, and scenic views along the River Esk.

Train manufacturer CAF Rail provided the recent cash injection through its community chest fund.

Esk Valley Railway General Manager Lisa Williams said:

"There's a company called CAF Rail who are actually train manufacturers. They have awarded us £1,000 from their community chest fund in recognition of the valuable work that the Forget-Me-Not train does, which we're absolutely thrilled to get some these recognitions along the line is really thrilling. It's wonderful."

The newly acquired funds will help sustain the complimentary services provided on board, but organisers are already looking ahead to secure the project's long-term future.

Lisa Williams added:

"So it will obviously go towards the massage therapy, the musicians we have on board, and all the little treats we give away on the train, and obviously the publicity that we need to to promote the line to all those living with dementia and their carers.

We are looking now at the next two years funding, because we're funded until the end of this year. So I'm just about to start going out with my begging bowl and tapping everybody up for the next two years."

Passengers travelling on Wednesday's service will journey to Middlesbrough, arriving at 1:32 pm, before returning to Whitby at 3:37 pm. Organisers are encouraging attendees to bring their own food, as there are no refreshment facilities available on the train or at Middlesbrough station.

Explaining how the day unfolds, Lisa Williams said:

"They come on board with their picnics because there aren't facilities for buying things along the way. So, we encourage everybody to bring their picnic, which is really lovely to see, to be honest, when everybody gets those out on the train.

The musicians set up and start playing all the way to Middlesbrough, where we get off the train just for half an hour while they shunt the trains around. Then, we get back on the same train on the same platform. So, no switching platforms or anything. It's very easy. Everybody leaves all their stuff on the train as well, so they go back to the same seats.

And then, we have music all the way back down. We also have a massage therapist on board who walks around to everybody giving hand massages. The lovely Leoni. And we then give out biscuits and all sorts of treats that we have on board just to make it a happy day."

The initiative has garnered high praise from local leaders, including Mayor David Skaith, while providing peace of mind for families affected by dementia.

Lisa Williams explained the real-world impact of the service:

"I think the overriding thing that comes across is that they feel it's a safe environment. So, particularly the carers they can bring their loved ones or their colleagues, whoever it is on board the train.

We have dancing up and down the aisles and there's always people to catch people at one one end or the other and turn them around again and dance back down with them. It's it is a lovely safe environment.

We have had huge support from our MP and also our Mayor David Skaith, who said it was the best thing he'd done since becoming Mayor, which is an accolade."

Because the Forget-Me-Not train operates as a normal scheduled service, passengers can board at any station along the line. Standard low fares and railcard discounts apply, with reduced prices for Disabled Railcard holders and their carers.

Lisa Williams confirmed the ticketing arrangements:

"People just come along and buy a ticket at the train, at the station that they depart from and they can join the train anywhere along the line from Whitby to Middlesbrough. It's very easy and it's just the price of an ordinary ticket. There's no extras included."

Volunteers and rail staff will be on hand to assist with boarding and disembarking. Space for wheelchairs is limited, so organisers request that wheelchairs be folded up where possible.

Following this week's excursion, the next scheduled event will be a Christmas Jumper Special on Wednesday, December 16th.