SVR General Discussion

It's disappointing that the SVR website now doesn't seem to have any words at all for those effectively frozen out of the entire first month of reopening through being solo travellers for whom £75 is prohibitive. I believe the old FAQ did address this, and I thought Helen Smith's article in "The Way Ahead" was well judged on this subject. Especially now some other lines (e.g. GCR/GWSR) *will* be offering much cheaper fares during August, this omission is perhaps an avoidable PR own goal.

 

All I would say on that individual traveller is watch this space. We haven't actually run a public service yet and only have the volunteer test trains to gauge reaction. So who knows what will happen once we start running.

 

That's fair. I'm not myself objecting to the decision the SVR has made to start in the way it has. I just think replicating what's already been said publicly (in "The Way Ahead") somewhere more accessible would have been useful.

 

Heritage railways are businesses and they need cash to survive. Those that are getting up and running have already lost a load of income and will for a time yet have substantially reduced income. You cannot blame them for trying to maximise income.

Having said that once they know how busy they are and have an idea of booking patters I presume that they might adopt a model of selling unbooked compartments at short notice to single travellers. It is not worth selling a compartment for £25 if you can get £75 for it but it is worth getting £25 rather than £nil

 

As the GWSR was mentioned above, I should point out that their website states "Shareholder tickets, members tickets, work permits, two for one, 300 club cards, caravan club discounts, HRA passes, VIP vouchers etc will NOT be accepted for travel in August." On the other hand the SVR is still making a limited number of places on each service available to shareholders, members and loyalty pass holders to honour their existing commitments to their supporters (you can of course still buy an SVR loyalty pass and re-use it up to 5 times a month going forward).

I do understand the frustration of a single traveler who only wants to visit the SVR once, but I'm fairly sure I've read that the position on the SVR will be reviewed in a couple of weeks' time. In the meantime I guess no railway can please all of the people all of the time.

(As a shareholder in both, I am personally happy to pay to travel on both for now as a way of making an additional donation to each railway)

 

I'm not aware of any such plan. I've seen an argument elsewhere that selling unbooked compartments on the day at below the previous advertised price might discourage people to book ahead and potentially encourage larger numbers of bargain hunters turning up on the day when you're trying to manage the numbers for social distancing. Kudos to the SVR management team (and other heritage railways) for getting things going, I'm not going to second guess them.

As others have said, September may be different (hopefully for the better) but there's no guarantees.

Patrick

 

I think what is clear is that we are (in railways and in other walks of life) dealing with a very volatile and fluid situation where the rules on the ground are liable to change very quickly and without warning. (If a govt minister can take a holiday only to find that when he comes back he is going to have to go into quarantine then what hope is there for the rest of us when it comes to planning).

The situation is going to change and change again and lines will have to adapt and change their approaches.

 

One railway I'm a member of is offering the ability for members to book unsold capacity at a discounted rate after 5pm the day before. That seems like a fair trade off to me.

 

My request for slightly improved *communications* seems to have been misinterpreted as a complaint about the actual *policy* when it is not.

(Rest edited out by me as it's just a distraction. However let me be clear: I wish the SVR a highly successful reopening, and I will be thoroughly delighted if everyone on Saturday and beyond has a wonderful, safe and happy time.)

 

I am passing Kidderminster on Sunday morning. While not having time to travel is the station/café open and can I visit?

Thanks.

 

The station pub should be open 11am-11pm according to the website. I'm not sure how much of the rest of the station will be accessible to non-travellers though.

 

Thanks, Forestpines. Looking at the website it seems only ticket holders are allowed into stations.

 

That's what the Bluebell is doing (and also free tickets for life members if any 1st class compartments remain unsold by the night before).

I suspect flexibility is going to be the key: what works in August may not be the same as what works in September. We aren't selling any single tickets but I believe the both the KESR and IoWSR are, with certain conditions: the key thing will be to learn from others and be adaptable.

Tom

 

I would not allow people just to turn on the day. I would still require booking in advance, possibly in a window starting 9:00pm the previous evening. By then you most of those most of those were going to pre book probably have but the one joy of the current system is you do not want the booking pattern is so can make a decision based on facts if you want to.

 

I think the TR have announced there will be limited availability for members on the last round trip of the day or that they will run the odd member special in the evening each week.

It should be remembered that, in theory, people have bought membership because they want to support the railway, not just because want the freebies on offer, so in these difficult times you would hope members, as supporters of the railway would be prepared to forgo some of the normal perks.

 

I completely agree - but also as a member of the Bluebell appreciate the consideration (in practice, for me in any case, an academic question on purely practical grounds). The deal is two way, and the acknowledgement from management is appreciated.

However, we digress from matters Severn Valley.

 

Thread drift is inevitable! What rule number is this @Jamessquared?!

 

It's been many a year since I visited the SVR, am sure the Engine House wasn't there then, so I am looking forward to my trip there in October with SAPHOS.

There we go, thread back on track.

Dave B

 

According to the SVR Wiki it was built 2006/7 and opened in March 2008

Keith