THE Severn Valley Railway is feeling really chuffed after winning its second major award in only three months.

The Kidderminster-based heritage attraction has been crowned the best preserved railway for groups in the 2015 Group Travel Awards, which recognise the best suppliers in the group travel industry. The railway has also just been voted heritage site of the year in the BBC Countryfile Magazine awards.

The SVR’s marketing and communications manager Clare Gibbard said: "To win an award and to know that we have been voted for by our visitors themselves, is a wonderful recognition of the work our group travel organisers, staff and volunteers put in each day to make sure that all of our visitors have the best possible experience here at the Railway. This will most definitely add even more sparkle to this exceptional year for us and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted for us.”

In the Group Travel Awards, readers of national magazine Group Travel Organiser were asked to vote for who they think are the best suppliers in the industry in more than twenty categories, rating their visitor experience from start to finish, from the pre-visit information to how to get to their destination and what to visit while they are there. The SVR was up against heritage railways from across the UK, including the West Somerset Railway, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Ffestiniog Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The win has presented an extra cause for celebration for the Railway, which is currently marking its 50th Anniversary with a packed schedule of visitor opportunities and special events.