Plan Your Visit
Welcome to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway — we’re really looking forward to welcoming you on board. Whether you’re planning a full day out or a short journey, this guide will help you find everything you need to make the most of your visit.
From choosing the right day to travel, to deciding where to start and what to enjoy along the way, you’ll find the key information below — with links to explore each topic in more detail.
At a glance
📍 Line: Broadway ↔ Cheltenham Race Course
🚂 Distance: 14 miles each way
⏱ Full journey: ~1 hr each way
🎟 Tickets: All-day rovers or standard return journeys
🚉 Stations: 6 along the line
📅 Running days vary — check timetable
Planning Your Day
Check the timetable. We operate different service levels — Blue, Purple, and others — depending on the date, which affect the frequency of trains and which locomotives are in use. Check what services are running on your chosen date before you travel on our Timetable page.
Know your route. Most services run the full 14 miles between Broadway and Cheltenham Race Course, but some early or late-day services start or end at an intermediate station. On quieter days there may only be two or three return workings — if you plan to stop off and explore, always check when the next service is due before you alight.
Allow some flexibility. Operating locomotives and carriages between 60 and 100 years old means things don't always run exactly to plan. We'll always do our best to keep you informed, but a little flexibility in your schedule goes a long way.
A Safe Day Out
We want you to have a brilliant day. To stay safe, please keep the following in mind:
Mind the Doors: Our heritage carriages have traditional slam doors that operate differently to modern trains. Always wait for the train to stop completely before opening them, and never attempt to board a moving train under any circumstances.
Stay Back from the Edge: Steam locomotives produce sudden bursts of steam and loud noises without warning. Please keep well back from the platform edge, and keep children and dogs close at all times.
Crossing the Line: Most stations use footbridges. If you require level access (for wheelchairs, prams, or mobility needs), please use the designated crossings at the end of the platforms and follow the instructions of our volunteers. See our Accessibility page for more details.
Photography: Please stay within public areas at all times. Never step onto the track or beyond the platform edge for a shot, and be aware that trains — particularly diesel services — can approach quietly.
Our Volunteers
The GWSR is run almost entirely by volunteers — over 900 of them — who give their time because they genuinely love this railway. They are your best resource on the day. Whether you need to know when the next train departs, where the toilets are, or what that locomotive is, they will be happy to help.
If you are ever unsure about anything during your visit, please just ask. A volunteer in a high-visibility vest or uniform on the platform will always be able to point you in the right direction.
