A planned trial service between Swanage and Wareham has been postponed until Summer 2023 due to “challenging trading conditions”.

It had been hoped that the Swanage Railway would operate a 90-day trial service using 1950s British Rail DMUs which have been upgraded for mainline running.

There have been delays in completing the submission to the ORR to obtain permission to run trains, with the option of bringing in a contractor to operate the trains being uneconomic. The postponement of the trial was also prompted by the fact that mainline passenger numbers have not yet returned to pre-Covid levels.

Back in 2017, a 60-day trial service from Swanage to Wareham via Corfe Castle operated using Class 33 No. D6515 and a West Coast Class 37s with WCRC Mark 1s. WCRC was also used to operate the trains on the mainline tour.

Swanage Railway chairman Gavin Johns said: “We can only run trains to Wareham when the conditions are commercially viable and it’s important that we operate the trial as economically as possible and when commercial conditions are at their best.

“We will continue with our main line train operating licence application to the Office of Rail and Road as quickly as practicable.

“The Swanage Railway’s business is still recovering from Covid, which badly affected customer and staff confidence, against a background of challenging trading conditions and economic uncertainty.

“Trading conditions during 2022 are very unpredictable because they are being heavily affected by significant prices rises being borne by our customers and our business – such as the increased cost of coal – as well as the tragedy unfolding in the Ukraine.

“Concentrating on providing viable heritage train services between Norden, Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross and Swanage remains the Swanage Railway’s first priority.

“The current challenging economic reality has affected our plans for operating a trial 90-selected day trial train service from Swanage and Corfe Castle to the main line at Wareham during 2022 and we are working to deliver that service during 2023, trading and economic conditions permitting.

“The business case does not currently exist to place external contracts to provide the trial train service to Wareham but we remain fully committed to securing all necessary consents and commencing services with a view to operating to Wareham during 2023.  This is the most pragmatic way to proceed,” added Mr Johns who is a volunteer Swanage Railway signalman.

“The extensive work required to put in an application to the Office for Road and Rail (ORR) for operating trains to Wareham has been very detailed and has taken longer than expected – it has probably been the most challenging project in the 45-year history of the Swanage Railway.

“Trading conditions and economic uncertainties permitting, we plan to run a 90-selected day trial train service to the main line Wareham during 2023.

“I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard on the Wareham project which has been a Swanage Railway ambition since British Rail closed the branch line to Corfe Castle and Swanage in January, 1972,” he added.