SVR General Discussion

I think railways are tightening their belts on such things, including the HRA Interrail cards. I heard someone say that he had just come back from a weekend in East Anglia and the only railway that would accept them was the Bure Valley. I'm hearing anecdotal evidence of others, as well.

 

Just for reference, the SVR is accepting the HRA Interrail cards for discounted travel but only on the day.

 

Only a couple of railways have 'officially' notified us of additional temporary restrictions to normal InterRail card use, however I am fairly sure most do have such restrictions currently in force (I know from my own trip last month, that NYMR are only accepting them for travel on the day (i.e. no advance booking). It's not unreasonable with limited capacity to give full fare paying people the first chance at seats).
We do expect them all to revert to the published 'normal' restrictions as soon as the governement enforced restrictions are lifted (i.e. social distancing no longer needing to be enforced).
This, and last years reduced period in which they could be used, is why we have been offering a £10 (28.5%) discount on cards for 2021 to those who purchased InterRail cards in 2020.
Mark Dewell
HRA InterRail Coordinator

 

Just a word of warning, from 22nd July ANPR cameras will be in operation for the NR/WMT carpark at Kidderminster.

 

Hopefully we'll get some info soon about what the SVR's plans are for after July 19th. More importantly, whether they'll resume selling tickets from Kidderminster for single travellers. For the last 18 months, all of my heritage railway budget has been spent on regular trips to the GWSR at Toddington, as they've kept selling single traveller tickets throughout, so I'm missing my trips on the Valley!

 

So, single traveler tickets are available on the Adventurer, the Bridgnorth train on some dates. The Sightseer is the name given to it when it does its Kidderminster-Bridgnorth-Kidderminster trip. While single traveler tickets aren't advertised for that, I suspect if you phone/book in-person you'll be able to do so.

As for a return to normal service, don't hold your breath

 

Interesting dilemma for a lot of heritage railways - legally they can now go back to how things were before, but given that COVID hasn't exactly gone away then from a national health perspective that probably isn't in anybody's best interests...

 

Tbf I agree and am fairly skeptical of the easing of restrictions, but I also don't want the SVR to be left behind compared to other railways.

 

A carriage or two of reservable compartments?

 

July's Branch Lines was published last Thursday. Apologies for the delayed notification, I was away
https://www.svrlive.com/bljul21

For those of you who want to purchase the new 72-page Severn Valley Railway Souvenir Guides, all gift shops and the booking offices at Kidderminster and Bridgnorth have copies to sell! If you can't get to the Railway and want yours, you can order by clicking here: NEW 2021 Severn Valley Railway Souvenir Guide – Official SVR Shop
https://svrshop.co.uk/products/new-2021-severn-valley-railway-souvenir-guide

Patrick

 

For anyone travelling on Wednesday 21 July, the timetable has changed because of the incoming Saphos Trains Severn Valley Enterprise railtour. New timetable details available here:
https://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?a=970

 

For reference, the Home & Dry appeal had reached £325,000 on the 28th July.

 

In the latest Steam Railway (521, p28), there is an article by the SVR's infrastructure manager Chris Bond about the on-going work to monitor and stabilise the slip at Sterns.

 

Agreed. The SVR comes across very well indeed, especially the marketing and engineering aspects.

It’s encouraging that the SVR recognises the importance of being innovative as well as preserving the past. I noticed the reference to a section of 35mph running that was agreed to by the ORR (for the Smart Weed System Train) which by itself is a fine achievement for a heritage line.

 

Higher has been approved before but that was generally just for a steam loco and a few coaches, not a pair of 66s top and tailing the weedkiller set.

 

Thanks all for the kind words on the newsletters (next issues underway and due out next Thursday!).

We carried a short newsletter article in June. The welcome SR article gives more scope than we can give in our brief word limit.

Indeed, some are at https://www.svrwiki.com/High_speed_testing

Patrick

 

Just been having a look at the SVR autumn gala, are all trains only available as a pre-book thing or are open tickets likely to be made available?

 

All trains are currently only available as a pre-book thing

Patrick

 

Pre-book only atm, same format as the spring. Though we'll see if there's movement there.