No more photo charters as Severn Valley ends the use of lineside passes

THE Severn Valley Railway has joined the growing list of preserved railways to end the issuing of lineside passes and permits and the operation of photographic charters. The railway suspended passes last year owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and no photographic charters took place during the year. Yet, with speculation over potential charters in association with the planned visit of ‘Saint’ No. 2999 Lady of Legend in April, the SVR issued a statement in March announcing that it will not issue any new lineside passes or accommodate any privately-run photo charters in future.

‘Potential risk’

Explaining the decision, general manager Helen Smith said: “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 the participants have. “The Office of Road and Rail 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 that have happened in less than a year.

Valid until expiry

“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 do so, and I expect soon there will be none.” Holders of existing SVR lineside passes will be able to use them until they expire, and the railway has removed the temporary ban that was put in place because of Covid-19. In the meantime, the railway plans to establish a small group of official volunteer SVR photographers who will have lineside access. In return they will be asked to give the railway full and free access to their work for its own use, along with publication in the heritage and wider general press.