The Severn Valley Railway has confirmed that they will not be handing out any new lineside passes and will also not be offering privately run photo charters.
According to the SVR, a ‘considerable’ amount of speculation has been going around regarding lineside passes and photo charters.
Lineside passes in 2020 were suspended and no photo charters took place.
The Severn Valley Railway has now clarified its position for the future.
No new lineside passes or any privately-run photo charters will be made available says the railway.
Helen Smith, the general manager explained: “I know that this news will disappoint some people. However, I ask you to step back and understand the extremely difficult position the railway faces.
“The income we receive from lineside passes and privately-run photo charters is insignificant when compared to the potential risk these activities naturally contain. This means that to continue them makes little financial sense. As the landowner, train operating company and infrastructure provider, if SVR Holdings continues to permit such activities we also hold liability for any accidents or injuries that the participants have.”
“The Office of Rail and Road has ceased its ‘light touch’ approach to heritage rail and is beginning to apply more rigorous standards to all heritage operations. The SVR is of particular interest to the ORR because of the two fall from height incidents that have happened in less than a year.”
“Put these factors together and you will see why it would not be in the SVR’s interests to allow these high risk activities to continue. Only a handful of heritage railways currently do so, and I expect that soon there will not be any.”
Holders of any existing lineside passes will be able to use them until they expire, and the temporary ban will be lifted for this to happen.
The Severn Valley Railway says that it plans to find a small group of volunteer photographers who will have lineside access but will have regular safety training.
If you like the look of the featured image used in this article, please click here.
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Responses
Well, if the SVR don’t want my dosh, I’ll take it somewhere else.
If you don’t think that railways need to follow the rules set by the ORR, I’ll be surprised if any railway will be that interested in your “dosh”. Any that think that your “dosh” is more important than ORR rules might need your photos as a historical record, though, as if they won’t follow ORR regulations they probably won’t be operating much longer.
Solution do a beeching in whole lot problem solved move over to electric to keep up with times forget the dangerous past choked by smoke etc save the planet track siding for toffs
Years ago a licence introduced to cb radio cb radio died preserved rail take turn in a downward trend especially covid 19 if screens in coaches but get steam in lungs will we wear masks to avoid that in future
Thank good ness ive got footage of various parts of the line from bridgenorth to kiddieminster and photos dont do it for me live action the best
Held an S.V.R. Lineside Photo/Recording Pass for many, many years. Also attended many, many photo-charters (Taff Vale Ry 0-6-2T No.85 on ‘goods’ being just one highlight). However, most decent ‘shots’ don’t involve being anywhere near the running line so who can complain? We’re all in a different era now.
this is utterly pathetic we are allowed take pinchers of trains its one yo stupid comments you bring up you just try stop people going out getting pinchers of class69001
Managing and dealing with lineside photographers on the SVR has been troublesome for quite sometime especially for operational staff. It was inevitable that this would eventually happen and I regret that it was not sooner. The railway remains a photogenic location with plenty of public rights of way located near the line. I welcome Helen’s comments in the article. Common sense has now prevailed.
I shall try again. Yes Richard you are correct. We are being groomed for a life of boredom, hence all the covid regs. Only the very rich will be able to enjoy risk taking pursuits in the near future. Notice how you can never question the health and safety zealots. They always turn it back on you to make you feel guilty that you are putting yourself at risk and others. Just like the covid slogans. Save the NHS save lives. Social distance and save lives. Wear masks and save lives. Etc etc. Nobody is allowed now to have the guts to take risks. What a dull dull dull life we are heading for.
The Severn Valley Railway is private property and there is no right of access unless by means of a public right of way. Lineside passes have been on a permissive basis only.
I understand the sentiments but this is the way ‘society’ evolves. It used to be acceptable to throw people to lions and watch two men hack each other to bits in the name of entertainment. It used to be perfectly acceptable to publicly hang draw and quarter felons for simply criticising a monarch, and not so long ago it was totally ‘normal’ to send pre teenage children to work in coal mines and numerous other dangerous occupations. But this is actually not about societal development it is a commercial decision. The SVR, like all HR’s are really suffering in terms of lost revenue. Line side passes represent significant latent costs for the business. The revenue generated by these passes does not equal the costs of issuing and operating with them. Simple. The SVR is under immense pressure – just look at what has happened up the road in Llangollen…
This is utterly pathetic. Prime example of health & safety being an excuse for doing absolutely nothing. The mentality in this country has got to change. The War Generation had the best lives (post war) when the country was freer than today. Every tiny thing is stopped and self responsibility shelved for bureaucratic drivel feeding non-jobs and jobsworths. What an unappealing, beige country this has become. Let’s never go to this railway at all as I may fall off the platform after tripping!
The Severn Valley Railway is private property and there is no right of access unless by means of a public right of way. Lineside passes have been on a permissive basis only.
You can’t blame the SVR for the ORR being yet another out-of-control government agency.
It’s nothing to do with the ORR, they have made no pronouncements on thee running of charters. This is the SVR saying to enthusiasts; sod off wd don’t want you, so after nearly 52 years as a member and shareholder that’s exactly what I will do
No, the ORR have tightened the rules generally, making lineside access a lot more controlled. A simple fact, but if you’d rather blame the SVR, sulk and throw out your toys, I doubt that they’ll will miss you that much.