PEOPLE with dementia are now on track to sample the delights of the region thanks to the willingness of County Durham railway staff ‘to go the extra mile’.

The 6,800 residents who have had a dementia diagnosis in the county can be certain their journeys will be eased thanks to railway station staff in Darlington and Durham City who have undertaken special awareness courses.

Alzheimer’s Society staff have been running Dementia Friends awareness sessions with the railway station teams so they are familiar with the nuances of the degenerative brain disease which initially affects the short-term memory.

To mark the dementia-friendly travel initiative, a group of people with dementia and their carers travelled from Darlington to Durham for a day out along with Alzheimer’s Society staff and volunteers and British Transport Police officers who are also Dementia Friends.

The project, which is being supported by Age UK Darlington, also received the civic seal of approval as Councillor Veronica Copeland waved them off at Darlington and Durham county councillor Lucy Hovvels greeted them at their destination.

As well as enjoying complementary travel from Trans Pennine Express and Colors Taxis in Durham, they feasted on fish and chips provided by Colin Wilkes at Durham Market before heading to Durham Cathedral where they enjoyed a guided tour.

The party were also serenaded by members of the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Community Roadshow and members of the Chester-le-Street Singing for the Brain group in Millennium Square in Durham City.

The day out – on the penultimate day of Dementia Awareness Week - was made possible by the support of station staff and British Transport Police officers PCSO Amanda Cooper and PC Fiona Andrews.