Swanage Railway

About

Whatever the weather, take a journey back in time with an enjoyable day of excitement and nostalgia at the award winning Swanage Railway.

Sit back and relax during a leisurely trip behind a historic steam locomotive.

The 12 mile Swanage Railway return trip takes you through the beautiful Purbeck countryside and includes stunning views of the iconic remains of William the Conqueror's Corfe Castle.

There are railway stations at Norden, Corfe Castle, Harmans Cross, Herston Halt and Swanage. You are able to buy tickets at Norden, Corfe Castle and Swanage stations with cash or card. If you get on the train at Harmans Cross or Herston Halt you will need cash to buy your ticket on-board.

You can buy a variety of one-way, holiday season (3 and 5 day) and Freedom Of The Line (all day, hop on/off) tickets as well as standard day-return tickets. Save time queueing on the day, and book your tickets in advance.

You can travel on the railway in either direction.

As you travel down to Swanage from Norden Station you can appreciate the rich history of the area, its abundant wildlife and fascinating geology as well as the influence the region had on famous authors such as Enid Blyton and Thomas Hardy. When Enid Blyton holidayed in the area, she used the railway and would generally include a train journey (inspired by her own experiences) in her Famous Five books.

You can use your return ticket from Norden to Swanage to break your journey and stop at one of the other stations. Perhaps visiting the quaint village of Corfe Castle and then getting back on the train to continue your day out. While at Corfe Station, be sure to stop by at the Railway Museum and take some photos from the very photogenic platform with the Castle in the background. Perfect for sharing on social media.

Steam trains run most weekends throughout the year and daily from April to October. Vintage diesel trains are also used on the service. In addition, special galas and themed events are also run, such as steam and diesel galas, Halloween Bistro and Santa Express.

Enjoy lunch or afternoon tea on-board our special carriages. Curry nights and Friday Night Bistro are available too, as well as Christmas Luncheon during December. Booking is necessary for these special events.

If you wish to get off the train at Herston Halt, tell the guard on-board the train. This station is a request stop only, so the train will not stop unless requested. To get on the train at Herston Halt, signal the train driver from the platform.

There is a cafe and picnic benches at Swanage Station where you can enjoy morning coffee and light lunches, or purchase a picnic lunch for your day out.