The Severn Valley Railway has already had 3,000 tickets snapped up for Santa Special trains.

Mailshots for the line, which runs between Kidderminster and Bewdley, have been going out this week.

However, marketing manager John Leach said they had received enquiries about the specials from as early as May. The booking line officially opened on September 22 and Mr Leach said already 3,000 places had been booked – about a 10th of the capacity.

He said: “We find a lot of people go the first time then keep coming back. It will be especially good this year as the grotto will be back at Arley. Last year most of the line was closed so it should be back to how people always remember it.”

Santa Specials operate on December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 24. Trains depart Kidderminster at 9.45am, 10.15am, 10.45am, 11.15am, 11.45am, 12.15pm, 12.45pm, 1.15pm, 2.00pm, 2.30pm, 3.00pm, 3.30pm and 4pm.

On December 24 the 1.15pm departs at 1.30pm and the 3.30pm and 4.00pm do not operate. More than 7,000 people were at the Autumn steam spectacular on September 19,20 and 21. Last year’swas significantly reduced after floods closed the northern section of the line beyond Bewdley.