Swanage Railway Trust

The Swanage Railway Trust, a registered charity, exists to preserve the heritage of the railways of southern England and especially of the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, and re-establishing a rail link between the town of Swanage and the national rail network at Wareham. The Trust focuses on furthering the development of the Swanage Railway by recruiting the members and volunteers on which progress depends as well as the appeals and fundraising needed to support the Trust’s activities.

​The roots of the Swanage Railway as we know it now can be traced back to the years after the Beeching cuts of the 1960’s. Whilst the branch line from Wareham to Swanage in Dorset survived these closures, a cycle of falling traffic and progressive withdrawal of services eventually led to closure in 1972. Momentum was quickly established to try and take over the branch and press for the return of a mainline connection. Despite local and national attempts to first prevent closure and then lobby for re-opening, this was not enough to prevent much of the track being lifted.

​The early days of the project saw several groups springing up with similar aims. These quickly came together and ultimately the Swanage Railway Trust was formed. The Swanage Railway as we know it to-day has been rebuilt over many years and is now one of the largest heritage railways in the UK. The Trust’s trading subsidiary – the Swanage Railway Company – operates the trains and is responsible for day to day management of the Railway. Details of train times, special events and other information for the visitor can be found on the Swanage Railway Company web site.

​The Swanage Railway Trust relies on three key strengths: providing a welcoming and fulfilling environment for our volunteers and members (our community), restoring and maintaining irreplaceable heritage items, and the fundraising needed to sustain our efforts. Whether you are considering joining us or just wanting to find out more, the panels below and the rest of the web site provide more details – or just get in touch!