SEVERN Valley Railway is feeling chuffed after winning £75,000 in a competition to boost rail related tourism.

The Department of Transport-backed initiative aims to create great new opportunities for UK and overseas tourists to enjoy the hidden gems of the country’s heritage and community railways. The entry by the SVR's charitable trust focussed on transforming disabled facilities to allow wheelchair users to travel on all services, as well as providing disabled access to all the railway’s attractions, including the ability to experience authentic heritage dining in a uniquely-designed 1950s carriage.

The heritage railway's general manager Nick Ralls said: "This award means we can transform our facilities for disabled visitors. We think it’s essential we offer all our passengers, regardless of their mobility level, the same level of convenience and access, along with the on board heritage dining facilities for which our railway is so well regarded. This funding from the DfT gives us the key to make that happen, and we’re extremely excited about getting started on the work.”

Rail minister Claire Perry added: "We want to show the best of British to our visitors and heritage and community railways are part of that package. I am delighted that the Severn Valley Railway charitable trust is one of 17 national winners across Britain. I look forward to seeing the scheme develop, providing another great reason to visit Worcestershire.”

The Severn Valley Railway’s scheme involves the restoration and conversion of two 1950s carriages, and the purchase of lightweight, portable ramps for each of the railway’s wheelchair-accessible carriages.

The expansion of the Severn Valley Railway’s existing wheelchair-accessible fleet and the creation of a dedicated dining car mean that the ailway will be able to offer charter and party facilities for large groups of people with disabilities.

The DfT’s £75,000 will form part of the project’s overall cost. The remainder of the funding comes from the Charitable Trust’s own funds, those of Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) plc, and also includes an in-kind costing for more than 3,000 volunteer hours that will be worked on this project.

To win the award, the Trust took part in a national Dragons’ Den style competition, pitching its project to a panel of senior government figures, including Lord Faulkner of Worcester, Sir William McAlpine, Mark Garnier MP, and Deirdre Wells of UK Inbound. More than 200 organisations applied for funding from the DfT’s Heritage and Community Rail Tourism Innovation competition, and the Severn Valley Railway was one of those shortlisted to pitch in person to the Dragons.