EMR teams up with Alsager Partnership to revamp station

East Midlands Railway (EMR) has completed a project which helps people living with dementia to more easily navigate around Alsager Station.

In completing the work, EMR has collaborated with the  Alsager Partnership, Alzheimer’s Society, North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership and Alsager Town Council.

The organisations have worked together to develop new signage which follows best practice when trying to direct people living  with dementia around busy environments. To help these passengers the signage includes easily recognisable symbols, clear colour contrasts and are not surrounded by other distracting information.

Alsager is already recognised as a Dementia Friendly Community and each year it works towards retaining the status by making improvements – this year it chose to focus on the railway station.

Lisa Angus, Transition and Projects Director at East Midlands Railway, said the company was delighted to be able to support the work at Alsager.

She said: “We have recently reviewed the way we use signage and how we create environments at our stations. So, it was very fitting to be able to support this project which shares many of our central themes and ideas.

“We hope the improvements will make life easier for people living with dementia and their carers when they catch one of our trains from Alsager.”

The aim of Dementia Friendly Communities is to help people living with dementia, and their carers, to feel safe, supported and involved in community life. This includes raising awareness and understanding, and improving services across all sectors.

Kath Reader, Alsager Partnership, DFC Project Lead, (Pictured below) said: “We are delighted with the new signage installed by EMR and hope it will encourage more people living with dementia and their carers to feel confident about using the station.

“We hope many people will visit the town and take the Dementia Friendly walk through Milton Park.”