Heritage Railway Magazine 251 - 15 February 2019 Edición anterior

The ‘Broadway Effect’ – which saw passenger levels on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway soar by an astounding 42.5% following the opening of
its northern extension to the fabled yellowstone tourist honeypot – has deservedly brought the Heritage Railway Association’s Annual Awards (Large Groups) to the Cotswold line.

Since Broadway station opened on Good Friday last year, both the line’s officials, tourist chiefs and local traders and shopkeepers – have been astonished by the public response and soaring influx of visitors into the town, which vastly exceeded all expectations.

The trains carried more than 144,000 passengers – compared with 101,000 in 2018 – sending records tumbling in a domino effect. Not only was the impact brilliant for the heritage line, but phenomenal for the town’s economy, too. Furthermore, tickets sold at the booking offices and online, soared by 49% to slightly more than 125,300.

Surely there is now a robust business case for public assistance to help the railway extend into the former halt at Cheltenham High Street? Imagine the immense commercial benefits for all sides – Broadway visitors taken into the heart of Cheltenham town centre and its shops, and vice versa. Here, there is a veritable treasure chest just waiting to be unlocked.