NETWORK RAIL has entered into a partnership with the Severn Valley Railway, designed to benefit both organisations – the first time such an agreement has been formally adopted between the national infrastructure company and a heritage railway.
Network Rail’s Central route will offer professional skills, advice and redundant railway materials to the popular heritage line, which operates between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster. In return, the SVR will provide support, training and facilities to help Network Rail staff maintain and operate some of the more traditional railway technology, such as semaphore signalling and lever frame signalboxes.
The partnership, which does not include any financial help from Network Rail, will also see the infrastructure company investigate how and when it could use its ultrasonic test train on the SVR to support the 16-mile heritage railway in using the state-of-the-art technology to identify potential faults with track and infrastructure conditions, as the train does across the national rail network.
Network Rail Central route director Denise Wetton said: “This exciting partnership will make a real difference to the railway of the past and present. The railway has always played a vital role in communities and economies, and the support we will give the Severn Valley Railway will help it remain a key attraction for the region.
“Access to its tracks and signalling to help train our staff on more traditional railway
