NORDEN 'PARK & RIDE' TO SWANAGE SERVICE SO PUBLIC CAN WATCH THE FIRST HISTORIC TRAINS FROM LONDON SINCE 1972!
1st & 2nd April 2009

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 27th March 2009
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright.
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Swanage Railway's heritage diesel multiple unit - in torrential and driving rain on Monday 9 February 2009 - was the first train train to be signalled out of the bay platform at Swanage station following signalling improvement works during the annual shutdown period.

By Andrew P.M. Wright.

Dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers are operating a special two-day railbus shuttle service from Norden 'park and ride' to Corfe Castle and Swanage so the public can watch two historic trains from London arrive in the seaside town - for the first time since January, 1972.

Twelve carriages long and with a diesel locomotive at each end, the two special charter trains from the Capital are running down to Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage on Wednesday and Thursday, 1 and 2 April 2009.

So the public can watch the historic arrivals at Corfe Castle and Swanage without having the hassle of trying to find a parking space in the picture postcard village or the seaside resort - a special shuttle train service is being operated from the park and ride car park next to Norden station.

Using a heritage diesel multiple unit with all-round windows, the shuttle trains depart Norden park and ride for Corfe Castle and Swanage at 11.10am, 12.05pm, 1pm, 5pm and 5.52pm. They depart Swanage for Corfe Castle and Norden park and ride at 10.45am, 11.40am, 12.35pm, 4.33pm and 5.25pm.

The running of the first 'Purbeck Pioneer' trains from London to Swanage will make Dorset railway history and are an important development that several generations of determined Swanage Railway volunteers have been working towards, against all the odds, for almost 40 years.

The special trains will be making Dorset railway history on two counts - being the first passenger trains to run between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage since New Year's Day, Saturday 1 January 1972.

They will also be the first trains to run from London down to Swanage since teatime on 1 January 1972 when the final rail tour to visit the Swanage branch line ran down to the seaside resort on the final operating day of British Rail's Swanage branch.

The historic 'Purbeck Pioneer' trains on Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 April 2009 are set to run through Wareham at 12.57pm, Corfe Castle at 1.30pm and Harman's Cross at 1.40pm before their arrival in Swanage at 1.50pm.

They will be running through Southampton at 11.45am, Brockenhurst at 12.10pm, Bournemouth at 12.28pm, Branksome at 12.33pm, Poole at 12.43pm, Hamworthy at 12.50pm and Wareham at 12.59pm.

The return 'Purbeck Pioneer' trains bound for London's Waterloo station are due to depart Swanage at 4.10pm, passing Harman's Cross at 4.20pm, Corfe Castle at 4.30pm and Wareham at 5.01pm.

Swanage Railway chairman Mike Whitwam said: "The running of these two charter trains from London to Swanage is the achievement of a treasured and long-held dream that has been sustained and nurtured by several generations of determined Swanage Railway volunteers - many of whom have since died.

"The Swanage Railway has been rebuilt from nothing since 1976 and that Phoenix rising from the ashes has been a tremendous achievement, showing the power of the human spirit against all the odds - physical, financial and political.

"For the first time since 1972, people will be able to take a train from London to Swanage. I would like to thank the charter train operators, UK Railtours, and Network Rail for their help in making these historic trains happen.

"The atmosphere on the trains, as well as along the lineside, will be similar to that on Wednesday, 20 May, 1885, when the very first train ran from London to Swanage on the newly opened Purbeck branch line.

"All the work over the past 37 years to enable these trains to run down from London has been a huge achievement because it has given Purbeck back a railway re-connected to the national railway system," explained Mr Whitwam.