Severn Valley Railway shares on sale
Shares in the Severn Valley Railway went on sale today to pay for a new visitor centre.
It is hoped the three million shares, priced at £1 each, will fund the new centre, station gateway and spectator gallery at Bridgnorth Station, and create a heritage engineering and building training academy.
People will be able to buy shares, at a minimum investment of £100 each, from today. General manager Nick Ralls said shareholders would be given discounts and a say in the running of the railway.
A spokesman for the SVR said: "To mark the 150th anniversary of the line, Severn Valley Railway is launching a share issue, which will give anyone with a keen interest in the railway the opportunity to own part of a national treasure."
Other ideas include restoring the Hagley Hall locomotive and carrying out further maintenance to the line and its infrastructure.
A launch of the scheme will be held on October 13 and 14 at a members' and shareholders' weekend.
The 16-mile railway runs from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster and carries about 250,000 passengers a year.
