The Esk Valley line in the North York Moors will be running the first of its new ‘Forget Me Not’ special trains for people living with dementia next Wednesday (19 March).

The Esk Valley line runs from Middlesbrough in Teesside to Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast through rural communities in the moors, following the route of the River Esk along much of its eastern part.

The stations en route are James Cook, Marton, Gypsy Lane, Nunthorpe, Great Ayton, Battersby, Kildale, Commondale, Castleton Moor, Danby, Lealholm, Glaisdale, Egton, Grosmont, Sleights and Ruswarp.

Two years ago, Northern staff voted the Esk Valley line among their favourite scenic railway routes. In 2005, the route was designated as a community line.

The trip is being organised by the Esk Valley Community Rail Partnership. The trains are available to all passengers and will have additional facilities for those living with dementia and their carers.

These will include:

• live music on board, provided by the Dave Clegg Duo
• complimentary hand massages
• other facilities which have yet to be revealed.

The Forget Me Not trains will depart from Whitby at 11.59 and will travel the 35 miles to Middlesbrough, scheduled to arrive at 13.30. The trains will then return to Whitby, arriving at 15.37.

Passengers do not have to book in advance. They can simply turn up, buy their tickets and board the train at any Esk Valley Railway station along the line. Standard fares and railcard discounts apply.

The Forget Me Not trains have benefited from funding from the Community Rail Partnership and support from Northern Rail, North Yorkshire Council, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, St. Cecilia’s Care Group – and local business Mucky Duck Chimney Sweep!

This is one of several initiatives over recent years to facilitate access to train travel for people living dementia. Others include:

• a dementia-friendly day on the East Somerset Railway
• a dementia-friendly music train in East Anglia
• establishing Northern’s Bentham line as a dementia-friendly railway.