SVR gets on track for commuter trains plan

Commuter trains will travel along the Severn Valley Railway heritage steam line for the first time in more than 40 years under new plans to open the route to mainline services, it emerged today.

Nick Paul, new chairman of the railway's parent company Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) Plc, today revealed Network Rail would begin work within months to link the main Kidderminster Station to the heritage line's base next door. The new link is due to be up and running by September next year.

It will mean passengers could travel straight from Birmingham to Bridgnorth, stopping off at any of the vintage-style stations along the way. "This forms part of our new three-year business plan to strengthen our financial base and improve the way the company is run," he said. "It is an opportunity that we have got to take advantage of."

Possibilities for the SVR to make money include mainline train operators paying to rent the line, or passengers paying a small additional fee for tickets to stations along the line.

And the railway's 250,000 visitors a year need not fear – there will be no fewer steam services than those which run at the moment.

"We will just be finding space in the timetable to see these trains run, so steam services will not be affected," he promised.

"But it means for the first time, people will be able to travel from Birmingham, through Kidderminster and to Bridgnorth. It is very exciting."

Final details including the cost of the scheme and projected income for the Severn Valley Railway will be rev-ealed in the coming weeks, as the deal is signed off.

Mr Paul said rising costs at the railway, including each steam engine needed a complete overhaul every 10 years and the ageing tracks in constant need of maintenance work, had contributed to the development of the scheme in a bid to bring in extra cash. It also comes after visitor numbers plummeted by 23,000 in 2010, hitting profits and causing 12 jobs to be axed.