4 days ago
Train operator introduces onboard therapy dog for passengers
One of the country's least punctual train operators is using a therapy dog to cheer up passengers and staff.
TransPennine Express (TPE) has become the first operator to take a designated animal on journeys to improve the wellbeing of its customers.
Nya, a six-year-old German shepherd, is owned and trained by a member of staff, but has been certified as a therapy dog by the charity Pets as Therapy.
The train operator, which has been owned by the government since 2023, was ranked the second-least punctual service at the start of this year. Only 47.5 per cent of its journeys came in on time.
Nya completed training to become a therapy dog
SWNS
It also had the second-highest percentage of services cancelled over the same period, more than two fifths of which were attributed to faults by the operator.
Stephen O'Callaghan, TPE's safeguarding and crime prevention lead and Nya's owner, said: 'I've had dogs most of my life and have always been a dog lover. I've always recognised the strong connection that dogs can have on improving people's wellbeing and the natural calming abilities that they bring to people as well as the social interaction that they provide.'
The operator, which runs services in northern England and Scotland, said the dog offered a 'tail-wagging welcome' to passengers and provided a 'way for them to destress while travelling'.
It added: 'She's also lending a paw to staff wellbeing, supporting mental health in the workplace.'
Stephen O'Callaghan says dogs have 'natural calming abilities'
SWNS
O'Callaghan said: 'Nya is now officially qualified to perform visits and she has received such positive response, with dozens of travellers and colleagues stopping to say hello.
'I'm so proud that TPE is the first ever train operator to have its own therapy dog and I'd love to see this rolled out across the rest of the railway.'
Nya 'spreads happiness on the rail network', he said. 'She really does put a smile on people's face'.
O'Callaghan takes the dog on walks to meet staff and the public at stations around the network. 'We all know it can be stressful at times, so dogs on the rail network are only a good thing in my opinion', he said.
