Severn Valley Railway seeking guards

Up to 100 volunteer train guards are being recruited to replace ageing workers on the busy Severn Valley Railway.

The Kidderminster-based rail company says it is trying to bolster numbers to prevent a "potential train crewing crisis" in the future.

Around half of the attraction's current 75 train guards, also known as conductors, are expected to retire in the next 10 to 15 years.

The company says it needs a full complement of workers to carry on running trains for more than 250,000 passengers along the 16-mile Kidderminster to Bridgnorth route each year.

And with visitor numbers continuing to soar, the railway also wants to ensure it has enough volunteers to cope with the expected increase in passengers. SVR train crew manager Mel Cook said the present number of guards was not enough for all the trains that the railway now runs.

He said: "Seventy-five guards might seem a lot, but this includes members who, because of their job, or their family or other commitments, can only work on the railway one or two weekends a year.

"That's fine - we're very happy to accept new volunteers on that basis - but on the reverse side of the coin, on a busy August Saturday we need nine or ten guards.

"It's a tall order, and an ever-increasing workload is falling on fewer shoulders. It means we're having to ask some of our train guards to do 30 or 40 turns a year - and that is putting too much responsibility on too few shoulders.

"We haven't had to cancel any trains yet, but we are relying on the goodwill of a relatively few volunteers in order to meet the demands of the train crew roster.

"We could take 30 more guards without even blinking. If we could get 100, I would be absolutely thrilled."

Ever since it first began operating public steam trains 40 years ago, the railway has been run by volunteers in roles as diverse as engine drivers, firemen, guards, signalman and station and booking office staff.

It has around 1,500 members making it one of the best-supported steam railways in the country. Positions as guards are open to both men and women, who are aged between 18 and 75, able-bodied, fit enough to lift a heavy train coupling and willing to learn the basic operating rules and regulations.

A recruitment day is being held at Kidderminster Railway Museum today.

Anyone who was unable to attend and is interested in volunteering can contact SVR volunteer liaison assistant Barry Moreton on 01299 401776 or email MrCook at mel cook@svrtoc.org.uk