Fostering community on the railways
Trainline is proud to partner with leading charity Parkinson’s UK on a new campaign to make rail travel more inclusive for everyone. As part of the initiative, Trainline has launched a new badge to improve understanding of conditions like Parkinson’s and encourage greater patience among passengers.
The simple but powerful message on the badge, “Patience please, travelling is challenging for me”, encourages understanding from fellow travellers by reminding people that kindness and patience can make a big difference.
55%
of people said they’d be more
likely to offer help if someone
wore a visible badge
Nearly 1 in 10
people
might mistake symptoms such as
tremors or slow movement for
something else, like intoxication
Only 15%
feel confident recognising
Parkinson's symptoms
Why Parkinson’s?
In the UK today, someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s every 20 minutes and around 166,000 people are currently living with the condition - a number that continues to rise. It’s a progressive neurological condition caused by nerve cell damage that reduces dopamine levels in the brain. There are more than 40 symptoms, and each person’s experience of Parkinson’s is unique. This individuality means the condition is not always recognised or understood, which can lead to misinterpretation - particularly in busy travel settings.
New research from Trainline highlights why greater public understanding is needed. Confidence around recognising Parkinson’s in the UK is low. Over half of people surveyed (54% ) said they were unsure about identifying symptoms, and only 15% said they felt “very confident” in doing so. Just under one in five (18%) would recognise slow movement or unsteadiness as a possible medical condition and almost one in ten said they might mistake Parkinson’s symptoms for something else entirely, like intoxication.
This is why Trainline has joined forces with Parkinson’s UK to design a badge that helps travellers indicate when they might need extra time or support. Over half of those surveyed (55%) said a visible badge would make them more likely to offer help - proof that even small signs can spark acts of empathy.
This shows how vital awareness is - and how kindness and patience can transform someone’s journey.
Meet Ben
Ben Gee, 47, lives with Parkinson’s .
“Parkinson’s affects everyone differently, and for me the hardest part is that people don’t expect someone my age to have it. I can’t always stand for long and sometimes my tremors or movements draw looks or questions. The badge takes away that ambiguity, meaning I can travel more confidently - it quietly explains what might be going on without me having to prompt the conversation. It’s not just about helping people with Parkinson’s, it’s about helping others understand - giving them the green light to show kindness, ask questions or offer assistance - something that can change your whole journey.”
Learn, understand and support
Learn, understand and support
Parkinson’s affects movement, balance, and sometimes speech, but is not always in visible ways. By recognising this and showing patience, you can make a big difference to someone’s journey.
To learn more about Parkinson’s and how you can help, visit parkinsons.org.uk or call their confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303.