Frequently Asked Questions

Swanage Railway runs between Swanage and Norden, with stations at Herston Halt, Harmans Cross and Corfe Castle along the route. Corfe Castle station is ideally located for exploring the historic village and visiting Corfe Castle.

You can simply enjoy a return journey or make a full day of your visit. Our Day Tickets allow unlimited travel throughout the day, so you can get on and off to explore places such as Corfe Castle before continuing your journey.

Our operating days and train services vary throughout the year. Please check our online timetable before travelling to see which services are running on the day of your visit.

A single journey is 25 minutes, a return journey is 1 hour, 10 minutes. A return ticket between Swanage and Norden allows you to break your journey at Corfe Castle. At Corfe Castle Station there are the Swanage Railway Museum (housed in the Old Goods Shed) and the Exhibition Coach which charts the history of the branch line focussing on the rebirth of the line as a heritage railway. At Norden Station there is the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum dedicated to the history of Purbeck Ball Clay Mining, the industrial heritage of the Isle of Purbeck and its narrow gauge railways. See website for details of opening days. http://www.purbeckminingmuseum.org Don't forget to make the most of your Freedom Ticket which gives you travel All Day Long.

Norden station - a dedicated 350 space car park and coach parking operated by Purbeck District Council (charges apply) just off the A351 Wareham - Corfe Castle main road. SAT NAV Post Code BH20 5DW Corfe Castle station - No customer car parking at Corfe Castle station. Limited parking in the village - Charges apply. We recommend parking at Norden (see above). Harmans Cross station - small car park, operated by local council (charges apply) SAT NAV Post Code BH19 3EB Herston Halt - No Parking Swanage station - Victoria Avenue car park, 5 minutes walk from the station (charges apply). SAT NAV Post Code BH20 1PW Coach drop off point adjacent to the station.

Yes. Swanage Railway can form part of a car-free day out in Purbeck, with Swanage station located in the centre of Swanage and Corfe Castle station in the heart of Corfe Castle village. Check local public transport connections when planning your journey.

Yes - You can break your train journey at Corfe Castle station which is in the centre of the picturesque village and a short level walk to the village square. The Swanage Railway's free to enter museums - the goods shed museum, the cinema coach and exhibition coach - are located at Corfe Castle station.

The footpath has steps and a stile on route.

Contact Dorset Council for more information.

Yes. Refreshments are available at selected stations, with facilities and opening times varying throughout the year. Please check our Catering Facilities page when planning your visit.

Advance booking is recommended but not essential except for Dining Trains, Christmas Specials and Driving Experiences for which advance booking is essential.

Swanage Railway has joined a long list of businesses by only accepting card payments. This means we no longer accept cash payments at our ticket offices, gift shop, our refreshment kiosks, or for on-train purchases.

We accept all major credit and debit cards except American Express.

Our Day Freedom Ticket gives you unlimited travel on our standard train services throughout the day. You can start at any station and get on and off along the route, making it a great option if you want to combine your railway journey with time in Corfe Castle or Swanage.

We are sorry but we do not offer a Senior Citizen Fare.

Carers travel for free when accompanying any registered disabled passenger. Carers still need to get their own ticket online or from our booking offices or ticket inspectors.

We request customers requiring a carer's ticket please produce valid ID when requested. 

Children under five travel free on our standard services. Child fares apply to children aged 5–15, and family tickets are also available. Special event fares may differ, so please check the individual event before booking.

Yes. Family Day Tickets are available for up to two adults and three children, or one adult and four children. Please see our Tickets page for current prices.

Yes. A journey on Swanage Railway makes a great family day out, with the excitement of travelling on a heritage train as well as plenty to explore along the route. Children under five also travel free on our standard services.

Yes, pushchairs are welcome. Space may be limited on busy services, so we recommend folding your pushchair where possible and following the guidance of our station and onboard teams.

We operate both steam and heritage diesel services, with the type of locomotive varying depending on the timetable and operational requirements. Check the timetable when planning your visit for details of the services scheduled to operate.

Yes. While we always aim to operate our services as advertised, locomotives may occasionally need to be changed at short notice for operational, mechanical, weather or safety reasons.

Swanage Railway offers heritage steam train journeys through the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, running between Swanage and Norden via Corfe Castle. Steam services operate on selected days throughout the year, so check our timetable when planning your visit.

Dogs are welcome on Swanage Railway and travel free of charge. Some events and experiences may have restrictions, so please check the relevant event information before you travel.

We want as many people as possible to enjoy Swanage Railway. Accessibility varies between our heritage stations and trains, so we recommend checking our Accessibility information before your visit, particularly if you are travelling with a wheelchair or have specific access requirements.

Our heritage trains have some different features to modern trains, so please take a little extra care when travelling with us.

• Please do not lean out of train door windows, except when necessary to open a door at a station.
• Our carriage doors are opened manually. Please wait until the train has come to a complete stop at the platform before opening a door.
• Some doors are kept locked for safety reasons and will be clearly labelled. Please use another available door.
• Not all carriage doors may be alongside the platform at every station. Please only leave the train through a door that opens directly onto the platform.
• Please mind the step and any gap between the train and platform when getting on and off. If you need assistance, our team will be happy to help.
• Please stand well back from the train while on the platform, particularly when trains are moving.
• Our heritage coaches do not have air conditioning. Windows can be opened for ventilation, and we recommend bringing drinking water during hot weather.
• If you feel unwell or there is an emergency during your journey, please speak to a member of our on-train team immediately. They will be able to provide assistance.

Please follow any instructions given by our staff and volunteers during your visit.