A new era of cooperation has begun between Network Rail’s Wessex Route and the Swanage Railway following a formal signing ceremony and first meeting held at Corfe Castle on Friday, 24th October. The landmark agreement is set to significantly strengthen ties, enabling closer cooperation and mutual benefit between the mainline operator and the heritage line.
Under the new arrangement, the Swanage Railway will receive donations of redundant railway assets from Network Rail’s Wessex Route. This includes materials such as rail and sleepers that are no longer required on the high-speed mainline network.
These materials, which would otherwise be recycled elsewhere, will now be sustainably re-purposed and re-used on the heritage line, effectively giving them a new lease of life. Because heritage railways operate passenger services at slower speeds, these assets can be safely and economically re-purposed, ensuring the continued operation and preservation of the line for future generations.
Skills Development and Expertise Sharing
The agreement offers a valuable exchange of resources and expertise, providing benefits to staff on both sides.
- Training and Development: Network Rail will utilise the Swanage Railway’s facilities to deliver practical coaching for its employees and apprentices. This training will focus on essential skills like maintenance, inspection, and fault-finding across a range of railway assets, benefiting from the heritage line’s separate, non-mainline environment.
- Volunteer Support: In return, the Swanage Railway will benefit from Network Rail’s in-kind expertise and volunteer support. Network Rail staff are encouraged to use their volunteering leave to assist with maintenance and operations on the heritage railway, strengthening community links.
The commitment also includes regular meetings to deepen the partnership, align activities, and explore new collaborative opportunities, including the potential for trialling new railway technologies on the Swanage Railway.
A New Framework for the Future
Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said:
“Wherever we can, we will work with heritage railways across our network to forge a new partnership so that materials that would otherwise be recycled elsewhere to be re-used can find a new purpose.
“In turn, the Swanage Railway also has some excellent facilities which, because they are separate from the mainline network, provide the perfect opportunity for our colleagues to contribute to the local community.
“Working together through this ‘Route Agreement’ provides a clear framework and we are excited about the possibilities it brings, not only to Network Rail and the Swanage Railway, but wider society – and what better time to do it than in 2025, the bicentenary of the railway.”
Swanage Railway Trust trustee Frank Roberts said:
“It has been a real pleasure to work with our Network Rail colleagues over the past months and I am very grateful for the guidance received from them.
“A decade ago, I led the project to reconnect the track from Swanage with the South West Main Line at Wareham which was successfully achieved and the signing of this Framework Agreement with Network Rail will help us strengthen our working arrangements.
“It is almost 50 years since volunteers started the restoration of the Swanage branch line. We have recently delivered an internal Governance Review which will streamline the Swanage Railway organisation just as Network Rail moves forward towards the new Great British Railways.
“The signing of this Agreement Framework is indeed a milestone in history and will provide both organisations with a good foundation on which to build for the future,” added Frank who has been a dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer for more than 40 years.”
