A series of display panels promoting walks, trails, and cycle routes are being installed across Cumbria’s coastal railway in a bid to promote accessibility.

The Cumbrian Coast Line Community Rail Partnership, working with Northern Trains and three day service groups – West House, Carlisle Day Services, and Allerdale and Copeland Day Opportunities – launched ‘Beyond the Home’, a scheme that will see the displays installed at stations.

The project aimed to provide those accessing day services – usually used by disabled people who are in care during the day – a chance to develop skills and increase confidence, a spokesperson from the partnership said.

Participants were involved with project research, rail safety, working with timetables, ticket office staff, and conductors, and travelling along the scenic line, enabling those with disabilities to travel safely and independently.

Displays, produced by Firpress, introduce a new mascot – Travis the Train Traveller – which features within.

The partnership said accessibility along the line ‘continues to be a challenge with Victorian infrastructure and a lack of investment’, which this project aimed to highlight, as well as ‘issues creating barriers to independent travel’ which it’s ‘raising awareness of the need for improvements’.

The panels are due to be installed at selected stations during April along with the release of a film created by Adamedia which documents the project.

Warren Birch, community rail partnership officer, said: “It was wonderful working with the different organisations, and particularly the people who access the services who are the real stars of the Beyond the Home project.

“To see their initial ideas develop into the end products was inspiring, as was the positive change in people’s self-esteem and confidence.

“Community Rail Cumbria hopes that people will travel by train to visit hidden gem destinations all along the West Cumbrian coast.”

Annamarie Armstrong, locality manager for Cumberland Day Services, said: “It has been an empowering experience for everyone involved to see the amazing achievements of the people we support.”

Lisa Rumney of West House said: “Our guys really enjoy using the train service to get them out into the wider community, we hope to continue working in partnership and look at other ways to develop accessibility at train stations.”