For directions and more information about each of our stations, please visit Our Stations page.
Booking & Tickets
A selection of our most popular tickets is available to purchase online (5% discount for standard online tickets), these and all other ticket options will be available from our booking offices on the day of travel. Please be aware the purchase of a ticket does not guarantee a seat.
Historically we have sent tickets by post. We will continue to do this if you require a hard copy ticket, but please allow 7 days to ensure safe arrival. In this case we will add a £1 handling charge to the price.
You will however be able to book online (up to mid-night the day before travel) and print the tickets at home or show us on your mobile device. As with a physical or printed ticket it must be shown upon request. Please note, it MUST be the E-TICKET itself shown to our staff and not the email which provides the link to it.
You can view our running dates and timetables here.
Hayles Abbey Halt will only be served by diesel railcar services.
Shareholder Ticket Vouchers, GWRT Membership Vouchers and Others
We are delighted to be welcoming you, our members, and shareholders, to our railway. You can use your valid Members' and Shareholders' Ticket Vouchers to purchase tickets, on the day of travel from the Booking Office. In previous years we have found the October services become very busy with shareholders using their vouchers, we would appreciate shareholders using their tickets earlier in the year if at all possible.
All other valid vouchers will also be accepted at the booking offices these include: HRA passes, GWSR Gift Vouchers and VIP passenger vouchers.
The Train Layout
We will be running seven-carriage trains, the majority of which will be open carriages which will include limited accessible areas, and catering facilities. There are no allocated seats, though certain areas may be marked off as reserved for Group Bookings. We ask all visitors to respect any area marked as reserved.
Accessibility
If you need to bring a carer or essential companion to accompany you as a visitor with disabilities, you can book a carers ticket at the time of booking, free of charge.
Toilets will be available on the trains, but it is not possible to access them in a wheelchair. However, trains will stop at Toddington, Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway where fully accessible toilets are available.
The GWSR is committed to making everyone's visit to the railway as enjoyable as possible. To this end all of our stations (with the exception of Gotherington and Hayles Abbey Halt which are accessible only on foot) have good access for passengers with disabilities. Although the platform at Cheltenham Racecourse is normally accessed via a long slope which some visitors might find difficult, we now have a flat accessible entrance from the car park available on request.
Our train staff will be happy to provide a ramp at our main stations to enable both wheelchair passengers and anyone who cannot climb the carriage steps to board the trains. (Please be aware that the maximum width of wheelchair that can be accommodated on these ramps is 79cm / 2ft 7in).
Occasionally it is necessary for trains to use platforms that are normally accessed via a footbridge. If you have problems using a footbridge a member of the station staff will be more than happy to show you where you can cross the line via the barrow crossing at the end of the platform.
Our trains have carriages which have been specially adapted for wheelchair passengers and their helpers. The spaces in these adapted carriages are allocated on a first come, first served basis and so availability cannot be guaranteed.
We have accessible toilets at all stations (with the exception of Gotherington and Hayles Abbey) and there are dedicated parking spaces for the people with disabilities available at Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse stations. There are also a very small number of Blue Badge parking spaces at Broadway Station.
For our full accessibility statement, visit our accessibility policy page.
Travelling with children & buggies
There is no storage space at the stations and very limited storage space on the trains so, if possible, please carry young children onto the train and leave pushchairs and buggies in your car.
Travelling with bikes & E-Scooters
There are spaces on our trains suitable for carrying bicycles. However, the available room is limited and often has to accommodate other items such as wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters.
It is available on a first come, first served basis at the discretion of the train guard, and we cannot guarantee availability on every train.
Up to 3 bikes maximum can be carried on a train at any one time, subject to priority for the available space always being given to wheelchair users. Such items must not block corridors, entrance vestibules or doorways.
Please note, it is not permitted to travel on our trains with an E-scooter.
Travelling with DOGs
Well-behaved dogs can normally travel on trains for a flat-rate fare although restrictions may apply for some special events. Tickets for dogs are available on-line in advance and from booking offices on the day of travel. Assistance dogs travel free of charge.
Important message about dogs
With the large increase in passenger numbers, as well as the unfamiliar sounds, movement and smells, we are finding that dogs are becoming distressed.
This has unfortunately led to a number of incidents with other passengers and our volunteers. Please therefore note the following guidance.
- A maximum of 2 dogs can accompany any single group of people.
- Dogs to be kept on a lead (preferably a short lead) at all times whilst on railway premises or trains.
- Dogs are not allowed in carpeted areas on the trains, and especially not in first class or in our restaurant or buffet cars.
- Dogs are only allowed on the floor and not on seats, tables or laps – even if you have a rug.
- For safety reasons, please don’t allow your dog to block walkways.
- There may be additional restrictions in place at certain of our special events - please see the relevant page on the website.
- Read this for more.
These notes do not apply to assistance dogs.
Other Information
Catering
We are able to offer on-train catering subject to staff availability, so our famous bacon baps will be available on some trains along with light refreshments and hot and cold drinks.
Catering facilities are available at Toddington, Cheltenham Racecourse, Winchcombe, and Broadway, selling light refreshments, hot and cold drinks, and ice-creams.
Station Facilities
Toilets are open at each station.
The shop at Toddington is open for customers to visit; it will open 20 min before the first train leaves and will close when the last train leaves Toddington. (Please be aware it will not be open when the last train arrives back to Toddington at the end of the day) If you are on the 15:00 please visit the shop before you start your trip to avoid disappointment.
