City News

BUCKING  a decline in the tourism market, the reborn Severn Valley Railway – reopened at Easter following last year’s disastrous storm damage – reports ‘vibrant’ passenger levels well ahead of the seasonal average.

Concerned initially that visitors might ‘lose the habit’ of visiting the 16-mile steam heritage line after the link between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth was severed for nine months,  SVR Marketing Manager John Leach reveals that passengers have in fact given the SVR a tremendous ‘welcome back’, voting with their feet.

Now, to cope with the increase in passenger loadings, the railway will be putting on extra steam trains during the upcoming Late Spring (Whitsun) Bank Holiday week.

On Sunday May 25th and on Bank Holiday Monday May 26th, the railway will run the busiest of its four timetables – ‘Timetable D’ – which gives train departures from both Bridgnorth and Kidderminster stations at 45 minute intervals each day, starting from Kidderminster at 09.55, and from Bridgnorth at 11.05.

But over the following three days, the SVR is bolstering its scheduled ‘Timetable C’ operations with an extra two trains in each direction, giving ten departures from both termini, starting at 10.00 from Kidderminster, and 11.05 from Bridgnorth.

Explains John Leach: “We’ve been pleased – and if we’re honest, perhaps a little relieved – to see so many people coming back to the railway for a day or half-day out – I think they missed us as much as we missed them.  But we want the bank holiday week trains to be an enjoyable and relaxed experience for everyone, and the ‘extras’ which we’re adding into the timetable should ensure there’s no overcrowding.”