Lancashire Sight Loss Council’s ‘Try the Train’ event
Thursday 5 June 10:00am - 3:30pm
Preston station, Lancashire, PR1 8AP
Are you blind or partially sighted (BPS) and want to gain more confidence using the rail network in the North West region? Discover the joys of independent rail travel with Lancashire Sight Loss Council’s ‘Try the Train’ event funded by Community Rail Lancashire at Preston train station on Thursday, 5 June 2025.
Book your place for Thursday, 5 June
Six people standing on a railway platform at Preston train station
At the ‘Try the Train’ event you will get the opportunity to experience a railway journey for free. This will include the chance to navigate your local station, board a train and familiarise yourself with its layout. This is before embarking on a return journey in an accessible environment.
Lancashire Sight Loss Council volunteers will take you from Preston train station on an assisted railway journey to Lytham St Anne’s, where you will all stop for tea and cake – before returning to Preston train station at 3.30pm.
Seven people standing outside a sign for Preston railway station.
Book your place at Lancashire SLC’s ‘Try the Train’ event:
- Location: Preston station, Fishergate, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 8AP
- Thursday, 5 June 2025, 10.00am – 3.30pm (Book your place by 5.00pm Friday, 30 May 2025)
- Lunch and refreshments will be fully provided at this event
- Sighted guides will be on hand to assist on the day of the event
Katie Douglas, Accessibility and Inclusion Officer from Community Rail Lancashire, said:
“Try the Train is a fully funded programme led by Community Rail Lancashire to empower passengers to travel more independently by train. The programme is now in its third year, and the experienced team have worked with over 300 people across the Northern network.
“During 2025 Community Rail Lancashire is really pleased to be working with Sight Loss Councils and Thomas Pocklington Trust. We have worked together to not only put on this event, but to have our team attend vision awareness sessions so that we can facilitate train trips like this across the North West.
“If you’ve never been on a train before or aren’t hugely confident in travelling, please come along. We will be going slowly and there will be plenty of support, as well as good fun.”
Kelly Barton, Sight Loss Councils Engagement Manager for the North West, said:
“We know how important public transport is for blind and partially sighted people regardless of whether its travel to work, visiting family or for social activities. But we also know that there are still so many people who are reluctant to get on a train, because of a lack of confidence and sometimes accessibility. We hope this event will help people feel more confident and empowered to travel by train in the future.
“There will be plenty of help available on the day for anyone who comes along. We have also delivered a vision awareness session to staff and volunteers attending, so that they are confident in sighted guiding and supporting blind and partially sighted people.”
Steph Syson, Lancashire Sight Loss Council volunteer, added:
“The thought of going on a train journey when you are blind or partially sighted can be such a daunting prospect and often the anxiety of it all will prevent many from travelling.
“So, this unique event, will be great for BPS people who are apprehensive about train travel. I am looking forward to the event, particularly the opportunity to familiarise myself with the actual layout of the train, which will alleviate some of my own anxiety I have around train travel.”
Places are very limited, so please book as soon as possible following the booking link.
Alternatively, if you would like any further information, please contact Engagement Manager Kelly Barton at Kelly.barton@pocklington.org.uk or 07508 958 938.
Book your place for Thursday, 5 June
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