SevernValleyRailway Reviews 32

As has been reported in the national news, the owner of the AA and BSM driving schools (the AA) has been ordered by the Competition and Markets Authority to refund thousands of learner drivers over what seems to be called "drip pricing".

The CMA found that more than 80,000 learners were not shown the total price upfront when booking lessons online ~ as required by law. Instead, a mandatory fee was added later in the process.

Is this not what the SVR is doing by charging customers without prior disclosure or consent a phoney "booking fee" of £2 at point of face-to-face sale?

In fact, for no apparent reason, we were charged an extra fee of £2.40 each. I only found out when looking at my next bank statement.

So be careful.

I love the Severn Valley Railway and always will. But these days will probably not use the railway unless they have a minimum of two steam trains running on the day and something back from Bridgnorth after 5. Timetable sometimes too sparse and a DMU doesn't cut it, except in the winter. I also believe on important event days ...like Flying Scotsman etc. outside contractors shouldn't be used because these people do not understand the romance of the railway. In my experience, on these occasions contractors tarnish the reputation of the railway with sub-standard food, particularly when helping out in Kidderminster. Security staff too; very controlling and act like they are at a massive rock concert, when it is a quaintly run railway. Overall though, this preserved railway is a really well run branch line. Probably the best of it's type in the UK. 100% worth a visit.

First proper visit to the Severn Valley Railway (previous attempts thwarted by damage caused by severe weather).

Beautiful Scenary, Magnificent Locomotives, and brilliant sunny weather, considering it was still February.

But, I am left feeling it could have been so much better.

Tickets bought in advance, and received eMail the day before saying "On arrival,,,, or check-in at the booking office to collect heritage souvenir tickets". Staff appeared bemused by this request on arrival. Had no idea what I was talking about.

Trains were very busy. The Autotrain, and the DMUs were very popular, and rammed solid. There should either have been less tickets sold, or more trains running (studying the timetable we believe there was capacity to do so) to spread the load.

The Engine House at Highley is well worth a visit, although did feel a little empty.

Across all the stations, I felt that there were a lot of missed opportunities to provide a narrative as to what you could see. Example being at Bewdly, a lot of intersting looking stock in the yard, not to mention a superb looking mixed goods rake, but nothing to explain the history, etc. Something I have always thought would be a very good would be a local goods shed being set up to show what it would have been like (never seen this anywhere so far).

A good day out, and will likely be back.

What a fantastic experience. We were able to scatter my dads ashes over the River Severn. The service the team provided from my first contact right through to the day was outstanding. Flying all the way from Australia I can honestly say, it was fully worth it.

My family bought me a footplate experience for my 70th birthday.
It was such a lovely day having the family as passengers when I had my firing and driving experience between Arley and Kidderminster.
A big thank you to Volunteer Driver and Fireman, Ryan and Phil for making it look so easy😀
A really fab day and really lovely having my experience on Steam Engine Hagley Hall, which I found had been restored having previously been rescued from Woodhams’ scrap yard in Barry, South Wales, where I once ventured as a boy in around the late 1960’s. I remember climbing on quite a number of the old engines, and, who knows, Hagley Hall, number 4930, may have been one of them😍
Thanks to all the volunteer staff who worked behind the scenes making it a truly wonderful day.

Picked our Motorhome back up after it didn't sell . Not Happy at all . Broken of bonnet latch and dirty inside and out . No communication unless we contacted them . Came back with the battery dead had jumpstart the motorhome when picking up and once on way home and a empty petrol tank . Only thing they did was put it on eBay . We could have done that ourselves . Had to pay £250 to get out of contact for doing naff all . Avoid like the plaque .

Brought a group of seniors (63) for a train ride from Kidderminster to Highly and return with a meal to start off the day at the station café. First class in all respects. Everything on time. The meal was amazing and all of the staff were so helpful. A superb day out and recommend this to anyone especially groups such as ours

Took advantage of the kids ride for £1 offer this half term, glad I did as it reminded my son of some very happy memories of going on the trains with his grandad.
Paid for freedom of the line tickets and we were there all day, the engine house was fun, nice to have the little buffet cart on the trains as well.
Only downside is the prices charged in the cafe at the engine house, other than that a great day out

A great day out to celebrate my husband’s 60th birthday and his steam train driver experience. Nine family members, including 2 grandchildren, made to feel very welcome and grandchildren able to be on the footplate of the steam train with their grandad while engine switching to other end of carriages at Kidderminster. Thank you to all at SVR for making this a great day to remember for the whole family!

Grate day out can not fault it, i paid the £4 for all day parking and now I’ve got a parking charge of £100 fine in the post, and I have proof of the payment.

My favourite railway. My son and I have been coming here since he was a baby and we both agree this is our favourite day out together.

I would urge anyone who wants a family day out to come here.

The night trains during the autumn gala in particular are our favourite times.

We took our grandchildren for the day on the train for the day yesterday. Every member of staff was friendly and kind, the ticket inspectors even letting them clip our ticket at each showing. Climbing up into the cab made their day! The museums are brilliant and they loved dialling on the phones and ringing each other up. They also enjoyed working the levers and were excited to see the wires and rods coming from the signal boxes on the return journey.
Best of all the kind lady in the shop at Kidderminster gave them gingerbread men even though we hadn't filled in all the eggs on their Easter Egg hunt sheets. ( Promise we did find the missing ones on our return journey!)

I took my family including my 4yr old grandson on the Kidderminster Santa train cost £200 and it was very disappointing, the coach was dark little decorations there was no grotto the pantomime was not suitable for young children who got bored and went outside to play there were several young children including my grandson outside with their mothers,children didn’t meet Father Christmas and a present was left on the train!,very poor and expensive food available,loos didn’t flush and we’re smelly! And there were so many members of staff around perhaps you should spend less on staff and more on the service I felt ripped off then we had to pay for parking ! What an expensive mistake!!!!

Never Again! Disappointing and Not worth the money! Although the stations were pretty, the train wasn’t decorated at all. The pantomime at Arley was terrible and pointless, and seemed to be just a way of wasting time to justify the price tag. My son had been expecting to see Father Christmas on the train, which didn’t happen, instead a plastic bag left on the seat with a gift inside.
A waste of a lot of money!

They use Premier Park to manage car park facilities - an appalling company, just look at the reviews on TP!
i have been issued with an incorrect penalty notice for parking at Bridgnorth and I am not pleased.Can't get anyone on the phone at either premier or SVR - maybe they don't want angry customers ranting at their chief executives?

Shocking attraction. Very over priced and poor quality. No seats, far too many people on the train. Then the train coming home was cancelled so had to make our own way from Bewdley to kidderminster ( extra cost) we also got a parking ticket because we were late back to the car. Shocking day out. Never again!!!!

I am a shareholder and though myself and my guests had a great day out we were disappointed that there was not a 1st class coach to travel in ( which was part of the shareholders agreement ) We took a flask along because last time I travelled there was no buffet car ( but now there is !! ) and a very long wait last time to be seved in the cafe at Bridgenorth ...the train times have all been changed and the days now very restricted ....but I guess in these difficult times ! and us oldies have fun working out the parking machines ... great day out thank you to all the volunteers who make it possible ...

Just to say thanks to Severn Valley Railway for the great day that I had at the diesel Gala event .This must have taken a lot of time and planning to get all the visiting loco's to this event ,so well done. I hope to be visiting again soon

Visited the Santa Express yesterday. Brilliant day - so well done and thanks to all at Severn Valley. Extremely efficient and pleasant staff. Great panto and an age appropriate gift in our railway carriage for my grandaughters. Aaniya was thrilled that her name was spelt correctly on her parcel- unusual name so lots of misspellings! A really enjoyable experience for children parents and grandparents ❤️ WELL DONE 👏 plus the sun shone!

We had a wonderful afternoon on the santa express, lovely presents for our grandchildren. Thank you very much to all the staff