Press release -
Thameslink’s ‘Try a Train’ day a huge success
Around 15 young people with learning difficulties who have rarely or never travelled on a train before, have been shown just how easy it is from start to finish by Thameslink, travelling from Luton Airport Parkway station to St Pancras International.
The station team at Luton Airport Parkway showed the group, accompanied by their carers from Central Bedfordshire College, how to find their way around a station, how to buy a ticket, how to use automatic ticket gates and to see what it’s like to travel on a train.
During the journey to London, Thameslink’s newest passengers took part in a quiz and on arrival were given a tour of St Pancras and King’s Cross next door.
Group Leader Lin Yates said:
“This great experience will help all the students develop their independence and widen their social horizons. The staff were attentive and supportive throughout and have shown the youngsters that there’s nothing to be worried about travelling by train.”
Southern’s Accessibility Manager Antony Merlyn said:
“The main point of the day was to help people with learning difficulties overcome their fears of train travel, and to help them be more independent. We wanted it to be both fun and informative and our station staff were fantastic.”
