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Reciprocal travel

 

List of participants

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  • Avon Valley Railway

  • Bluebell Railway

  • Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway (SRPS)

  • Dean Forest Railway*

  • East Lancs Railway*

  • Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway

  • Gloucester & Warwickshire Steam Railway

  • Great Central Railway

  • Helston Railway

  • Isle of Wight Steam Railway

  • Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

  • Kent & East Sussex Railway

  • Leighton Buzzard Railway

  • Llangollen Railway

  • Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway

  • Mid Norfolk Railway

  • North Yorkshire Moors Railway

  • Seaton Tramway

  • South Devon Railway

  • Spa Valley Railway

  • Strathspey Railway

  • Swanage Railway**

  • Talyllyn Railway

  • Volks Electric Railway

  • Watercress Line

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* See notes at the right.

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**SVR staff passes will be accepted for Wareham-Swanage Day Rover travel including the 'link'. You’ll need a Swanage Railway complementary ticket. Car parking at Wareham station is restricted, so it’s best to travel there by public transport.

Please note that the Reciprocal Travel Scheme applies only to SVR working or retired working members who are in possession of an appropriate pass.

Notes on the scheme

 

On 'Normal' operating days' timetables all the railways signed up for the scheme should permit free third class (or 2nd or standard class on some lines) on production of an SVR working members staff pass.

Some railways, like the SVR, accept the pass and don't issue a ticket whilst others issue a complementary ticket.

On Gala days and certain other 'Special Events' days when there are special timetables in operation, in theory all should provide a reduced rate fare in line with what we do but in practice it varies from similar arrangements to the SVR, to free, to no concessions at all.

It is safest to assume that such restrictions apply at Galas and either phone in advance or certainly enquire at the Booking Office on arrival.

Phil Ralls  Reciprocal Travel Officer

phil.ralls@svrlive.com

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Updates

 

25th July 2022

As a result of some recent complaints from SVR Working Member Pass Holders who, when visiting some railways in our Reciprocal Travel Scheme, encountered problems, I have decided to contact all 28 Railways in our scheme to ascertain whether, post covid, they are operating as normal as far as the reciprocal travel is concerned . This is proving to be quite a time consuming task so please consider this as an interim report.

I have had to delete the following railways from our scheme; GWILI RAILWAY, NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY, RAVENGLASS AND ESKDALE RAILWAY.  

In addition some railways remaining in the scheme have put advisory notes and these are as follows;

  • EAST LANCS RAILWAY - Advise phoning first on day of visit to check seat availability.

  • DEAN FOREST RAILWAY - Avoid Wednesdays in high summer.

Whilst contacting these railways I'm taking the opportunity to update my list of names of people responsible for Reciprocal Travel issues and am surprised at just how quickly people move on and fail to inform other railways.

Please rest assured that I should be able to complete this task before the September 'Express Points' and will also circulate a new list for circulation to all Booking Offices and TTIs and the other appropriate places such as The Engine House at the earliest opportunity.

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23rd March 2022

I'm pleased to announce that as from 2nd April 2022 we can welcome Llangollen Railway back to our Reciprocal Travel Scheme and accordingly they are back on our list.

Usual conditions apply with free travel on normal operating days and reduced rate (Llangollen Railway Member rate) at Galas. Usual exemptions with no concessions at Santas etc.

SVR Pass Holders when visiting Llangollen Railway are requested to produce their pass to either a booking office or TTI who will then issue them with a no charge ticket.

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25th August 2021

With the resumption of 'Hop on, Hop off' or 'Turn up and Go' operation from 7th September I was personally very pleased to be informed that our 'Reciprocal Travel Scheme' would also be able to resume.

I need to make you aware that currently the situation away from the SVR is still very much in a state of 'flux' and I still advise that if you are intending to visit a member railway a pre visit phone call would be worthwhile.

Closer to home though I have some good news from our neighbours The Gloucestershire, Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) who, although they have shut down their Reciprocal Travel Scheme for the remainder of 2021, have as a gesture of good will, agreed to grant SVR Working/Retired working members free travel as per the scheme. This is on 'normal' operating days only. 

Unfortunately a couple of former members of the scheme have left us. One of these sadly is Llangollen Railway who you will no doubt be aware have recently experienced some  problems which are currently being addressed. I have been corresponding with them and am optimistic as to their future and have assured them that when they feel the time is right they will be welcome to rejoin the scheme.

Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway intimated that they are not interested in remaining in the scheme and I have deleted them accordingly.

Amended Reciprocal Travel Member Lists will be circulated prior to September 7th.

Let's hope that 2022 will prove to be as near to 'business as usual' as possible.

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