A long-held ambition to extend the platform at the Severn Valley Railway’s Kidderminster Town station has been realised, with the official opening of the newly extended platform taking place today [7 May].
The project has lengthened the platform by approximately 60 metres, allowing a full nine-coach train and locomotive to stand in the run-round position. This enhancement not only improves operational flexibility but also brings visitors closer to the action while meeting evolving safety standards.
Project manager Antony Bartlam said:
“What began as a straightforward extension quickly developed into a complex engineering challenge. The existing track alignment on platform 2, set on a tight radius, required careful repositioning while retaining original points to control costs. Additional works included carefully positioning the former Radyr bracket signal, moving the barrow crossing, and regrading the access road to the TMD.”
The scheme has involved significant construction, including reinforced block walls filled with around 400 cubic metres of material, alongside the installation of hundreds of edging blocks and coping stones, many reclaimed from across the railway.
The official opening ceremony was attended by volunteers and staff whose dedication had ensured the project’s successful completion.
Gus Dunster, SVR managing director, said:
“Our sincere thanks go to everyone involved for their hard work and support. This wonderful achievement now opens the way for another ambitious project at Kidderminster. With a longer platform in place, the time has come to complete Kidderminster Town station, as it was always intended to be.
“Very soon, we’ll be launching a major fundraising campaign to pay for the construction of a stunning GWR-style platform canopy. This will protect our visitors and give them a welcome worthy of the SVR’s gateway station, using a combination of reclaimed steelwork and newly manufactured components.”
Kidderminster Town station is the busiest of the Railway’s six stations, welcoming around 80% of its visitors. While it has the appearance of a station from more than a century ago, it was in fact constructed in the mid-1980s to an authentic Great Western Railway design.
The completion of the platform extension represents a significant step forward in the continued development of the Severn Valley Railway’s principal gateway, ensuring it remains fit for the future while retaining its historic character