Southeast Communities Rail Partnership’s ‘Travel Ambassadors’ programme was developed to support disabled people to become more confident and independent using public transport to access heritage sites and outdoor spaces.

Co-designed with Optalis staff, the programme placed the ambassadors – five individuals with diverse disabilities – at the heart of decision-making. Through a series of bi-weekly meetings, the ambassadors planned and undertook three trips, travelling by train to locations across the Great Western Railway network. Each journey incorporated an activity, and together the group assessed accessibility across every stage of the journey – from station access and boarding trains, to navigating signage, engaging with staff, and accessing the attractions.

Their findings were captured and transformed into a ‘how to’ guide, which documented the ambassadors’ journeys in their own words, alongside challenges experienced and potential solutions. The guide serves as an authentic, accessible reference point for other disabled people seeking advice, inspiration and reassurance when planning journeys, from peers who understand those challenges first-hand.

Feedback from the project highlighted that it provided an accessible environment for the ambassadors to build confidence and foster new skills, and it has created ripple effects of empowerment that extended far beyond the journeys themselves. For transport providers, tourism attractions and other stakeholders, the programme has provided practical insights into the daily experiences of disabled passengers, raising awareness of the barriers faced and how they can be addressed, creating future opportunities around developing a more inclusive vision for public transport.

‘Beyond the Home’, a project led by Community Rail Cumbria and supported by the Northern Accessibility Innovation Scheme, was designed to support disabled people to overcome the challenges and barriers they encounter when travelling by train, through the process of designing a selection of bespoke resources.

Over several months a series of workshops were held, bringing together service users from three adult social care organisations within Cumberland Council: West House, Carlisle Day Services and Allerdale & Copeland Day Opportunities. The sessions provided the opportunity for service users to drive and shape the project, brainstorming, collating ideas and creating common themes on how the display panels and leaflets should look and be linked together. Research for the panels also provided the opportunity for the service users to travel along the Cumbrian Coast Line and explore the local area.  Some had never travelled by train before and the opportunities to engage with ticket office staff and conductors, use ticket machines, work with timetables and learn about rail safety built individual self-confidence and raised awareness amongst the group about the benefits of accessible public transport.

The finished interlinked panels, which use Makaton and other visual aids, are now displayed at selected stations along the line, promoting active travel for all and assisting people with disabilities to travel safely, confidently and independently. The service users involved in the project have continued to use the train to travel together, strengthening new friendships and reducing the risk of isolation.