The scenic and very popular 16-mile Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has won another award, their latest being a UK Transport Award.

Run by a growing business SME news, the UK Transport Awards are given to companies that stand out from competitors and show dedication, enthusiasm and resourcefulness.

The SVR have been doing that for almost 60 years and it seems fitting that they should win the Best Regional Heritage Railway Attraction for 2024 just before their 60th anniversary next year.

“We’re delighted that the SVR has added another award to its trophy cabinet. Our Spring Steam Gala last week showed just how well we can do things here, and the feedback from our visitors has been hugely positive.

Running a heritage railway attraction is very much a balancing act. You have to make sure visitors have an excellent experience, so they’ll not only return but also tell their friends to come. And you’ve got to do it in a way that’s financially sustainable. We work hard to get that balance right.”

Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, the SVR’s managing director

The Severn Valley railway started operations in 1965, and has grown much over the past 59 years.

Benefitting from starting early in the preservation railway era, the line has aquired a wealth of both steam and diesel locomotives and an outstanding collection of rolling stock.

The line has also grown and now operates over 16 miles from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth, with six excellently preserved stations in total. It is a well-recognised heritage railway and tourist attraction.

Along with the regular services, the railway runs special events and railway galas, themed dining trains, and they run footplate experiences, where members of the public can drive a heritage steam or diesel train.

Along with this, the ‘Engine House Visitor Centre’ at Highley houses locomotives that are awaiting restoration, where members of the public can get close quarters and experience exhibits of steam engines and a preserved railway carriage that was once part of the royal train.

A shop and cafe is also available and is a perfect place to stop off at as you journey along the line.

Run largely in part by a dedicated army of over 1,600 volunteers, the railway welcomes a quarter of a million visitors each year, and is a key part in the local tourism economy of both Worcestershire and Shropshire, of which the railway runs between.

“Changing oneself to meet the ever-changing needs of such a versatile industry is no easy feat. The demand for such flexibility creates an expectation that anybody would struggle to meet. Thankfully, our awardees have onboarded the responsibility, and have developed award-winning methodologies that may very well define the future of the trade.”

The UK Transport Awards coordinator Jack Ford