Severn Valley ends photo charters and new lineside passes
THE Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has imposed a ban on future privately-run photographic charters and will not issue any new lineside passes.
The railway suspended passes last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and no photo charters took place last season or have been planned for 2021.
General manager Helen Smith: “I know that this news will disappoint some people. However, I ask you to step back and understand the extremely difficult position the railway faces.
“The income we receive from lineside passes and privately-run photo charters is insignificant when compared to the potential risk these activities naturally contain. This means that to continue them makes little financial sense.
“As the landowner, train operating company and infrastructure provider, if SVR Holdings continues to permit such activities we also hold liability for any accidents or injuries that the participants may have.
“The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has ceased its ‘light touch' approach to heritage rail and is beginning to apply more rigorous standards to all heritage operations. The SVR is of particular interest to the ORR because of two fall-from-height incidents which have happened in less than a year. One involved a volunteer at Bewdley yard last July, and the other a paid member of staff at Bridgnorth motive power depot in February.
Risk
“Put these factors together and you will see why it would not be in the SVR's interests to allow these high-risk activities to continue. Only a handful of heritage railways currently do so, and I expect that soon there will be none.”
Holders of existing SVR lineside passes will be able to use them until they expire, and the railway will remove the temporary ban that was imposed because of the pandemic. However, once expired, lineside passes will not be renewed. The railway has asked anyone with a valid pass to use it responsibly in the meantime.
The SVR plans to establish a small group of official volunteer photographers who will have lineside access and will undertake rigorous and regular safety training in return for giving the railway full and free access to their work for internal use and publicity purposes.
Martin Creese, of 30742 Charters, said: “We would like say a massive thank-you to the SVR's staff and volunteers who made us so welcome and appreciated our contributions for 22 years of fabulous memories which are truly priceless.
“All good things come to an end and hopefully, in time, we can find ways to collaborate again. I especially look forward to seeing the return of No. 4930 Hagley Hall, which received many donations from our events, as well as new-build BR Standard 3MT 2-6-2T No. 82045 in more recent times.”