Commuter trains return to Bewdley

Revival and re-opening of rail services has a long history in the West Midlands region, dating back to creation of the Cross-City Line between Lichfield and Redditch in 1978, and since then seeing development of other cross-city services via Snow Hill, the Chase Line, Midlands Metro and, most recently, opening of the Camp Hill Line for local trains. 

So it is very pleasing to see the latest initiative by what is now known as the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and the start of trial commuter rail services along the southernmost 3½-mile section of the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) between Bewdley and Kidderminster which, if successful, could herald direct Bewdley-Birmingham trains.

Nine years after I had suggested revival of the link for regular traffic in my 2017 book “Railway Renaissance” this trial will see the SVR’s heritage three-car Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) operate two services from Bewdley to Kidderminster, at 06.40 and 07.40, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for eight weeks starting on 1 September 2026, with return workings from Kidderminster at 17.45 and 18.50. 

By changing onto a connecting West Midlands Railway (WMR) service at Kidderminster, it means that passengers from Bewdley will be able to reach Birmingham Snow Hill station in one hour and six minutes, arriving at 07.46 or 08.46, with their evening return services being at 16.46 and 17.46, to reach Bewdley at 17.57 or 19.02.

For a bargain add-on fare of just £3.60 return (£2.00 single) lucky returning Bewdley commuters may even get the chance to complete their journeys behind steam on many days of the trial service, with regular SVR services operating between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster on almost all Wednesdays and Thursdays during the trial period. 

Being a longstanding shareholder in the delightful SVR I decided to use one of my shareholder tickets to spend Bank Holiday Monday (31 August) re-acquainting myself with the railway and its stations, before an overnight stay at the Wetherspoon-owned George Hotel in charming Bewdley and then a ride on one of the first two commuter services to Kidderminster the following day (1 September).

The SVR today is one of Britain’s most attractive and scenic preserved railways, which runs for much of its length alongside the River Severn, boasts three delightful intermediate stations at Arley, Highley and Hampton Loade, as well as two wonderful pubs serving a variety of fine local ales at each end of the line – the King & Castle at Kidderminster and the Railwayman’s Arms at Bridgnorth. 

After a weekend of heavy showers it was rather disappointing to discover that the SVR remained diesel-only on 31 August, although there was an interesting quartet of heritage locos in action, comprising Class 14 “teddy bear” D9551, 20048, 50033 “Glorious” and D1062 “Western Courier”. 

Escaping from one heavy downpour after my journey from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth behind 50033, I retreated to the wonderful Railwayman’s Arms for an excellent pint of Hobson’s Champion Dark Mild (3.2%/£4.05). Returning to Bewdley, I then took a photographic break at Highley to capture some of the day’s diesel action.

Back at Bewdley station at 06.25 on Tuesday morning (1 September 2026) and the place was buzzing, with local media, enthusiasts and a few genuine commuters waiting as the SVR boss, Mayor of Bewdley and the train driver posed for photos before departing with the first service at 06.40 (2K00). 

What have been titled Bewdley Express services are being worked by the SVR’s Metro-Cammell Class 101 three-car DMU, which was built in Birmingham in 1957 and withdrawn from network service in 2003 for its new life in preservation and comprising vehicles E50170 / E59393 / E50253. 

The excitement had calmed down a little by the time the DMU made its punctual return at 07.22, arriving into platform 1 before shunting onto the viaduct north of the station then heading into platform 2 to form the 07.40 departure (2K02). It departed for Kidderminster with around 26 genuine passengers aboard, along with a number of SVR and WMR revenue protection staff.

In announcing the trial service, West Midlands Rail Executive stated that its aim was “to assess passenger demand and demonstrate the wider benefits of connecting Bewdley more closely with the regional and national rail network. With significant housing growth in the area, improved rail connectivity has the potential to reduce road congestion for commuters while making Bewdley an even more accessible destination for leisure, tourism and business.”

Flood-prone Bewdley began losing its passenger rail services as long ago as 1962, when a branch line to Tenbury Wells closed to passengers, with the Severn Valley line northwards to Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury succumbing the following year (1963). 

A limited local service on the Bewdley-Kidderminster and Bewdley-Hartlebury lines lingered on until early January 1970. Four years later the preserved SVR reached Bewdley from its base at Bridgnorth, but it was to be another decade before the link with Kidderminster was restored (1984).

On the evidence of what I saw on Day One of the trial service there seems every chance that it will prove successful and so help put Bewdley back on the national railway map after an absence of 56 years. The one restricting factor could be the limited amount of parking at Bewdley station (68 spaces), which may become an issue on days when SVR trains are running. 

Having made my commuter journey on the 07.40 from Bewdley (2K00), I took the opportunity while in the area of paying an overdue visit to Stourbridge Junction for two reasons – to take a trip aboard a Parry People Mover Class 139 on the 0.8-mile long branch to Stourbridge Town and to hopefully photograph George, the famous station cat, who seems to feature on Facebook every day! 

 Services on Europe’s shortest branch-line were appropriately being worked on 1 September by 139002, which bears the name “George the station cat” and were attracting a steady stream of commuters for the three-minute journey. 

Back at Stourbridge Junction I was just in time to meet George as he was released from the booking office for a “pawtrol” of the station approach and kindly agreed to be photographed, while his minder – known as the FC apparently – seemed grateful for my gift of two bags of cat treats!

For anyone tempted to spend more than a day on the SVR, or visit the area and try the new commuter shuttle, I can highly recommend the Wetherspoon-owned George Hotel, an easy ten-minute walk from Bewdley station and just over the river bridge, where I paid £56.00 for a comfortable single room. 

Despite its being a Wetherspoon establishment, I ventured next door for beer to the highly impressive Real Ale Tavern, where from its amazing line-up of 12 hand pumps each offering a different real ale or cider, I picked a fine pint of Black Country Ales’ Pig on the Wall dark mild (4.3%/£4.50).