North Norfolk Railway is gearing up after a summer which saw its daily service bring aboard nearly 115,000 people since lockdown restrictions were eased and lifted.
The 5.5-mile heritage line ended its period of daily running on Halloween, with figures towards the end that beat pre-Covid 2019 – but crews are already preparing for the running of its Norfolk Lights Express and Santa Special services.
Graham Hukins, Commercial Manager, North Norfolk Railway, said: “Being forced to remain closed through the Easter holidays was the worst possible to start to the season and that was followed by three months where only limited operations were possible, so we are delighted that visitors have returned in force later in the year making the last three months one of our busiest ever periods.”
Andrew Munden, General Manager, North Norfolk Railway, added “Our team of volunteers and staff have stepped up to the challenge and provided a traditional warm welcome and great visitor experience in difficult circumstances and it’s wonderful to see their efforts appreciated by so many passengers.
He continued, “Although daily services have finished, we still have two of our most popular annual events to come: the Norfolk Lights Express and the magical Santa Specials.”
Norfolk Lights Express trains run from Sheringham on most evenings from 15 November and combine the tradition and romance of an old-time steam train with state-of-the-art GPS controlled lighting and audio technology to create an immersive experience for the whole family. Lights mounted to the outside of the train illuminate the passing countryside to create an enchanting and constantly changing vista for passengers while additional illuminated dioramas at selected points along the lineside add to the spectacle.
The Santa Special train service operates at weekends from 27 November until 19 December and daily from 20 – 24 December, allowing families to take a festive steam-hauled ride from Sheringham to Weybourne Station where they alight to explore a specially-created Christmas Tree Kingdom en route to visit Father Christmas. As well as present for every child, there are seasonal refreshments for adults and children.
Advance booking is essential for the Norfolk Lights Express and Santa Special trains – full details including times and how to book can be found here.
Image credit: North Norfolk Railway
