A COMMUNITY rail group is launching a major initiative to improve train travel for people with dementia.

The Leeds-Morecambe Community Rail Partnership (LMCRP) has won funding to develop the Bentham Line, which includes Keighley, as a ‘centre of excellence’ for passengers with the condition.

Support for the innovative project has been provided by Northern’s Seed Corn Fund.

The aim is to produce a rail travel and destination ‘toolkit’ for groups using the line, to make journeys less stressful and boost people’s memories of train trips in days gone by to destinations such as Morecambe and the Yorkshire Dales.

Training would be provided to volunteers and Northern staff as part of the venture, which is also backed by Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Catherine Huddleston, partnership officer with the Bentham Line and the project co-ordinator, said: “Group members will travel along the route and on to destinations from it, which include the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Forest of Bowland.”

Any group interested should contact Catherine at the.bentham.line@gmail.com or call 07471 941038 or 015242 98940.