Press releases

Arriva Trains Wales and the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association are teaming up to provide training for guide dog puppies. The new scheme will benefit blind and partially sighted people using train services across Wales and the border counties of England .

Puppy walkers will get free access to Arriva Trains Wales stations and short journeys on the company's train services. This will give the puppies valuable experience of getting on and off trains, travelling between stations, passing through ticket barriers and working in a busy environment - all skills that will assist their blind or partially sighted future owners.

Commenting on the new initiative, Mike Hurley , head of stations for Arriva Trains Wales, said:

We are delighted to be working with Guide Dogs by providing free access to stations and trains for puppies in training. The partnership shows our commitment to improving access to our services and will help to raise awareness amongst our staff of the needs of our blind and partially sighted customers.

A fifth of the 20,000 people registered as blind or partially sighted in Wales live in Cardiff and surrounding valley communities. It is estimated that over 100,000 people in Wales experience some degree of visual impairment.

Rail travellers who are registered as visually impaired receive discounted rail travel and other offers through the Disabled Persons Railcard scheme.

Terry Smith, Guide Dogs' regional puppy walking manager, said:

We train up to 50 puppies and dogs each year at our centre in Cardiff and there are currently more than 250 guide dog owners in South Wales and the border counties of England.

He continued:

Visually impaired people are often regular users of public transport. Arriva Trains Wales' support is a huge step in ensuring both guide dogs and owners are comfortable and confident using the rail network.

Arriva Trains Wales operates a 'Journey Care' helpline whereby disabled customers who would like assistance at stations or on board trains can make arrangement for this to take place. Journey Care can be contacted by calling 0845 300 3005 or 08457 585 469 (textphone).

Ends

Notes to editors

• Photograph attached (from left): Jessica Stickland, corporate relationships account manager for Guide Dogs; John Chard, a volunteer puppy walker from Penarth and Cyril Howe, Cardiff Central Station manager for Arriva Trains Wales, with Emily a guide dog puppy in training at Cardiff Central Station. Photograph by Betina Skovbro.
• Arriva Trains Wales provides more than 900 services every weekday throughout Wales and the border counties of England . It manages 238 stations, 51 of which are staffed
• Puppy walking volunteers care for and educate guide dog pups from six weeks of age for a period of 12 months, when they begin their specialised guide dog training around the country.

  The young dogs will spend much of their first year with the puppy walker volunteers who teach basic obedience and get them used to a home environment, noise and the bustle of towns.

  The volunteers will prepare the animals for their working life ahead which includes taking them on public transport including, trains, buses and taxis. Guide Dogs supplies basic equipment and cover all veterinary and feeding expenses.

  To become a puppy walker, volunteers will need to have access to a car. They will have to be home for most of the day, and free to take their puppy into many varied environments – sometimes busy and difficult. Their yard or garden will also need to be securely fenced so that the puppy remains safely within its confines.

• For more information about Guide Dogs visit www.gdba.org.uk .