Official opening of the Norden park and ride scheme by Government minister

Photo report dated 3rd October 1999 - all photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright.

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The Government's local transport minister and a top railway company boss have praised the Swanage Railway - and expressed confidence in its aim of linking up with the national railway system - during the formal opening of a £510,000 park and ride transport interchange.

The pictures of the plaque unveiling show Keith Hill the rural transport minister (blue suit and gold tie), Purbeck District Council chairman Roy Anderson (blue suit and glasses), South West Trains managing director Graham Eccles (grey suit and red tie), and Countryside Agency chairman Ewen (COR) Cameron (blue suit, dark blue pullover).

A TOP rail company boss has said there is no physical barrier to stop the Swanage Railway's volunteer-run Purbeck Line from being connected to the national rail network and that its long-held dream since 1972 has every chance of succeeding.

The expression of confidence from South West Trains managing director Graham Eccles came during the official opening of a trail-blazing park and ride transport interchange with the steam railway at Norden station, north of Corfe Castle, on Wednesday, September 29th, 1999.

The honours were performed by transport minister Keith Hill - who is as excited by the prospect of the Swanage Railway connecting with the national rail network as the boss of South West Trains - said all councils should learn from the eco-friendly scheme by Purbeck District Council which he said was "tremendously exciting."

Linked into the bus, cycle and footpath network - and with facilities for coaches - the park and ride car park for 250 vehicles has cost £510,000. Designed to take traffic off the road and benefit the environment, it was used by 50,000 people and 27,000 cars after the success of a small trial scheme started in 1995.

"I immediately recognised just what an invaluable project this has been in concept and is proving to be in practice. It's an excellent example of an integrated transport scheme achieved through partnership between local planners, landowners, government bodies and the Swanage Railway," said local transport minister Keith Hill who has taken over from Glenda Jackson.

"The Swanage Railway can also be congratulated on reopening the rail link between Norden and Swanage," added the minister. South West Trains managing director Graham Eccles said: "I'm actually quite excited by what I've seen today. The entire concept of connecting a heritage railway, something one normally associates with leisure, to the main railway system is a very exciting project.

"From what I've seen today, that has every chance of being successful. I can see no physical barrier to stop it happening and I'm really looking forward to being a part of that project. It's exciting, it's innovative and it's exactly what we want. I'm very keen.

"There is no reason at all why the Swanage Railway shouldn't be a part of Britain's main line transport system. All it needs is a bit of imagination and a bit of money.

"What the Swanage Railway has done so far in creating a transport interchange is good," added Mr Eccles who is responsible for running 1,820 trains a day across southern and western England.

About his opinion of the Swanage Railway's professionalism and competence, he ended: "They are professional railwaymen like just like I am. I think they are doing a good job.

A group of local councils and interested private and public bodies, the Purbeck Rail Partnership is working towards the Swanage Railway's connection to the national network and the introduction of an all-year round service from Swanage and Corfe Castle to Wareham, Poole and Bournemouth.

Consultants working for the partnership say that will cost £2.8 million and that the train service would make a minimum profit of £40,000 a year. Purbeck attracts 4.5 million visitors a year, pumps £95 million into the area's economy and supports more than a quarter of local jobs.

The Norden park and ride scheme was recently given the Southern Tourist Board's green award for transport excellence. Now, the scheme is one of three projects in the running for a prestigious national award.

Partners in the Norden park and ride scheme are Swanage Railway, Purbeck district and Dorset county councils, the Government's Countryside Agency, BP Exploration and English China Clays.