A LONG-held ambition to extend the platform at the Severn Valley Railway’s Kidderminster Town station has been realised.
An extension project has lengthened the platform by approximately 60 metres, allowing a full nine-coach train and locomotive to stand in the run-round position.
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 on May 7 was attended by volunteers and staff whose dedication had helped the project be completed.
Project manager Antony Bartlam said: “What began as a straightforward extension quickly developed into a complex engineering challenge.
“The existing track alignment on platform two, set on a tight radius, required careful repositioning while retaining original points to control costs.”
Severn Valley Railway’s managing director, Gus Dunster, added: “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 our 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 per cent of its visitors.
