1998 - Swanage Railway's most successful year ever

NEWS RELEASE From: Andrew P.M. Wright. Swanage Railway Press Officer: February 5th 1999

Determined to make its award-winning Purbeck Line services even better, Swanage Railway volunteers are celebrating their most successful year ever - carrying a record 147.000 passengers - as they publish their new aromotional and timetable leaflet for 1999.

MORE people have been using the Swanage Railways train services than ever before with passenger numbers up nine per cent far steam, 20 per cent for the heritage diesel shuttle and 42 per cent more people using the award-winning Norden park and ride scheme during 1998.

Use of Purbeck District Council’s Park and Ride car park by train travellers leaving their cars at Norden station - rather than travelling by road to Corfe Castle and Swanage to board the trains - has increased from 19,000 cars (57,000 people) in 1997 to 27000 cars (81,000 people) last year.

By the end of 1998, 147,243 passengers had travelled on the Swanage Railway’s steam train services between Norden Park and Ride, Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross and Swanage. That compares with 123139 for the previous year. an increase of nine per cent.

And some 5,000 people travelled on the Swanage Railway's evening heritage diesel service between Swanage, Corfe Castle and Norden during the six weeks of the peak summer - 20 per cent up on 1998.

The release of the Swanage Railway’s record passenger figures for 1998 comes as the devoted railway volunteers publish their new full colour timetable and promotional leaflet for 1999. A handy pocket-sized, it opens out to larger than A3 and carries the slogan ‘Still The Best'.

With a clear and easy to read timetable and calendar, it has been designed by the Swanage Railway’s marketing committee made up of Bill Trite, Sue Payne and passenger services manager David Green.

Production of the leaflet - 300,000 copies of which have been produced for distribution across the south of England as well as independent preserved railways nationwide - has been carried out by Swanage Railway voiunteers David Clifford and John Villers of Finial Publishing.

Its impressive colour photographs are the work of Swanage Railway's official photographer Andrew PM Wright with the location maps produced by Poole graphic artist and Swanage Railway volunteer Andrew Maltman.

"Everyone is delighted at our performance during 1998 which is the best ever and nine per cent up on 1997", said Swanage Railways passenger services manager David Green.

"Although the railway is a tourist attraction, its primary role is to transport visitors - to encourage them to leave their cars at Norden park and ride and let the train take the strain down to Corfe Castle and Swanage instead of added to traffic congestion on local roads

"To see the use of the newly extended Norden park and ride car park run by Purbeck District Council increase by 42 per cent or 8,000 cars - that’s an average of 24,000 extra people - is great news.

"It shows that park and ride is a concept that the public will use and use again. We have a very high rate of repeat business when passengers come back again and again. That speaks for itself.

"Although the public may think that the railway may run itself, a lot of people are needed on a daily basis just to keep it running - not to mention the railway’s various restouation, maintenance and development activities

"The peak summer season is a particular slog and although we do have a small hard core of paid staff, volunteers are needed to keep the railway funning and we always welcome more to come and join us. It’s hard work but great fun and very rewarding," he added.