THE Severn Valley Railway has been selected as a finalist in the Visit Worcestershire 2023/24 awards for excellence in tourism.

The heritage railway’s visitor offering has proved a hit with Visit Worcestershire’s judges, who have shortlisted it as a finalist in the large visitor attraction category of the awards.

Factors such as the SVR’s unique qualities, digital presence, inclusivity, recent improvements and future plans were all considered as part of the application process.

The final stages of judging will take place during an unannounced mystery visit during the coming months, and the large visitor attraction winner will be revealed at a ceremony in March 2024.

Lesley Carr, the SVR’s head of marketing and communications, said: “We’re delighted to have been selected as finalists in these prestigious awards.”

“Of course, we know we’re up against very stiff competition, so we’re determined to do our very best to come through as overall winners.

“The SVR is very much a part of the region’s fabric and economy, and we’re constantly innovating and coming up with new ideas to attract visitors. Visiting us is so much more than a train ride, it’s a trip back in time and a chance to experience the past, have fun and make precious family memories.

“One of the ways in which we’re offering something extra this year is by giving a voucher for a free return visit to everyone who buys a Freedom-of-the-Line ticket. It’s proved extremely popular.”

The SVR brand is riding high at the moment, as the heritage railway also revealed that it’s won a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award for the fourth consecutive year.

These awards are only given to the top 10 per cent of visitor attractions around the world, and are based on reviews and ratings earned over the previous year.