Swanage Railway recruiting a Chief Executive

[Titfield]

Chief Executive - Swanage Railway - Swanage, Dorset - £Competitive (berwickpartners.co.uk)

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Chief Executive to lead Swanage Railway into its next chapter of growth and success. The Chief Executive will provide strategic leadership and operational management, ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of the organisation. This role requires a leader who can inspire and motivate both staff and volunteers, drive cultural change, enhance commercial and financial performance and contribute to and ultimately, drive forward the railway’s three-year business plan....

as advertised on Swanage Railway Company: SR Staff - for all who work on or for the railway

The Swanage Railway has now commenced a process to recruit a Chief Executive. The process is managed by our partners Berwick and Partners - please visit their site for details and how to apply.

Good to see the renewed confidence that the Swanage Railway is now displaying by investing in a Chief Executive to lead Swanage Railway into its next chapter of growth and success.

Who knows it may even mean that the Swanage <> Wareham link can run again if the new CEO is able to drive this forward.

 

[BazingaTribe]

It has probably been being proposed since the line shut down.

Then again, they said the same thing about Reading Green Park and it finally opened in 2023.

 

[Titfield]

It has probably been being proposed since the line shut down.

Then again, they said the same thing about Reading Green Park and it finally opened in 2023.

Swanage Railway has run two trials over the Swanage <> Wareham branch: one in 2017 (60 days) and one in 2023 (90 days) but it declined to do so in 2024 stating it lost over £100K in 2023.

 

[BazingaTribe]

That's at least progress. (Like I said, they did actually get the Reading Green Park station up and running, so maybe the comparison was apt.)

Genuinely been out of touch for a bit (my parents have a holiday cottage down there but I haven't been down since the pandemic as they started renting it out). But that's very interesting -- and hopeful news. The slog by bus from Wareham to Swanage is tiring (as is waiting around in Wareham for that bus) and since I was last down there I was lamed in an accident.

If there was a direct service I'd be on the inaugural run . It would be magic just to get on a train and be there.

 

[Timetraveller]

Unlikely to happen anytime soon runing trains from Wareham to Swanage.. A bridge between Wareham and Norden was badly damaged by a vehicle recently and needs to be repaired. Swanage railway are trying to recover the repair costs from the persons insurer. No charter trains can run either.

 

[Titfield]

That's at least progress. (Like I said, they did actually get the Reading Green Park station up and running, so maybe the comparison was apt.)

Genuinely been out of touch for a bit (my parents have a holiday cottage down there but I haven't been down since the pandemic as they started renting it out). But that's very interesting -- and hopeful news. The slog by bus from Wareham to Swanage is tiring (as is waiting around in Wareham for that bus) and since I was last down there I was lamed in an accident.

If there was a direct service I'd be on the inaugural run . It would be magic just to get on a train and be there.

The bus journey and Swanage railway rail journey (using a dmu) both take about 40 minutes between Wareham and Swanage.

The connectivity between rail and bus though is variable, caused by the hourly bus Swanage <> Wareham but a twice hourly rail service London <> Wareham.

Unlikely to happen anytime soon runing trains from Wareham to Swanage.. A bridge between Wareham and Norden was badly damaged by a vehicle recently and needs to be repaired. Swanage railway are trying to recover the repair costs from the persons insurer. No charter trains can run either.

There are very few charter trains that use the branchline typically half a dozen or so in a year. Likewise even though SRC refer to it as the means to get guest locos to / from Swanage for galas the reality is that many come by road because it is cheaper and / or they are not mainline certified.

 

[BazingaTribe]

Yeah. I travelled the bus route a lot a number of years ago and being sat for half an hour waiting for the bus was not fun, either in Wareham itself if I walked into town for a cream tea or by the station if I didn't.

The route to Swanage is also very up and down, particularly after Corfe. It goes up a very steep hill to Langton Matravers, where our cottage is, and going up there in a double decker is not fun for those of us who suffer from motion sickness! The other side of the hill -- Swanage to LM -- is much more forgiving and easy to ride. The only worse journey I've taken was a large Bus Eireann coach squeezing through narrow Irish roads at the turn of the century. I like taking buses rather than trains when on holiday because you see more of the countryside (and I know which ones to take when you genuinely want to go through the smaller towns to reach a larger destination rather than just hurtle down the motorway -- I surprised a Lithuanian bus conductor in Klaipėda by taking a route that skirted the Russian border to Kaunas but I'm a sucker for aging Soviet bus stations...) but not in hilly regions like Purbeck in unsuitable vehicles.

If it would take forty minutes either way, I'd much rather be on a train than a bus!

 

[Cymroglan]

I really do sympathise with anyone suffering from motion sickness, so what follows is not aimed at you, BazingaTribe.
I really love the bus journey between Wareham and Swanage. The views on the heights section are among my all time favourites. A totally different perspective on Corfe Castle, especially approaching it from the Swanage direction and great views of the sea, the coastline, the fabulous countryside in both directions.
Wareham town is a short walk from the station and has some good watering holes and the gorgeous St. Martin’s Church with its wall paintings and Saxon features. I often break a journey to or from Swanage to spend an hour or so enjoying Wareham.

 

[BazingaTribe]

Oh definitely. It's beautiful. My dad takes some gorgeous photographs of the coast there at sunrise and sunset to capture the colours (I need one for a gap on my wall!). Even at night with the stars out it has a character all of its own. Coming up the hill towards Langton on a clear Christmas Eve night showed how festive nature can be. The summer triangle was also visible in the, erm, summer and I was lucky to marry an astronomer (although he was sadly taken away by cancer) because it makes such a difference to know what you're looking at.

It's well worth a few wobbly moments.

It gets very wet and windy at night but it's an incredible place during the day and the conservation authorities have done wonders keeping the look of the place intact.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Oct 2024 ==

(Wareham is nice as well. It's a lot bigger than it looks and you can spend a whole day there in and out of shops and cafes.)

 

[Titfield]

Yeah. I travelled the bus route a lot a number of years ago and being sat for half an hour waiting for the bus was not fun, either in Wareham itself if I walked into town for a cream tea or by the station if I didn't.

The route to Swanage is also very up and down, particularly after Corfe. It goes up a very steep hill to Langton Matravers, where our cottage is, and going up there in a double decker is not fun for those of us who suffer from motion sickness! The other side of the hill -- Swanage to LM -- is much more forgiving and easy to ride. The only worse journey I've taken was a large Bus Eireann coach squeezing through narrow Irish roads at the turn of the century. I like taking buses rather than trains when on holiday because you see more of the countryside (and I know which ones to take when you genuinely want to go through the smaller towns to reach a larger destination rather than just hurtle down the motorway -- I surprised a Lithuanian bus conductor in Klaipėda by taking a route that skirted the Russian border to Kaunas but I'm a sucker for aging Soviet bus stations...) but not in hilly regions like Purbeck in unsuitable vehicles.

If it would take forty minutes either way, I'd much rather be on a train than a bus!

For the past couple of summers there has been a route from Wareham Forest (via Wareham Station) to Swanage going via Corfe Castle and Harmans Cross thus avoiding the hilly section via Langton Matravers.

If coming to Dorset by train I weigh up alighting at Bmth and getting the 50 bus over the chain ferry to Swanage or alighting at Wareham and getting the 40 bus via Corfe Castle to Swanage.

 

[BazingaTribe]

Thanks for the info. The cottage is in Langton though so I have to brave the uphill part of the journey. I haven't been down since 2021 but things have been a bit screwy for me since the pandemic and time has flown past.

I now work from home though so I'm more able to use the cottage without having to take leave.

Re: alternative bus journeys -- I've done similar from Poole in the past. That's definitely an easier journey and something to consider. I'm lucky in that all those stations are relatively short hops from Basingstoke and nice comfortable trains to ride on. It is also within the Network SE Railcard zone at least ten years ago when I was making more regular trips down, so I got quite a nice discount on the fares. I don't make enough trips now to justify a Railcard (I get work travel paid for and my train fare between Reading and Basingstoke was never enough to get discounts on it at all), but now I want to try it out for a week or so and see how it goes.

 

[Invincible]

Chief Executive - Swanage Railway - Swanage, Dorset - £Competitive (berwickpartners.co.uk)

as advertised on Swanage Railway Company: SR Staff - for all who work on or for the railway

Good to see the renewed confidence that the Swanage Railway is now displaying by investing in a Chief Executive to lead Swanage Railway into its next chapter of growth and success.

Who knows it may even mean that the Swanage <> Wareham link can run again if the new CEO is able to drive this forward.

The new CE maybe someone from the charity museum management sector with no railway experience. Maybe a front person for admin and fundraising.
Hopefully the department managers will have railway experience and the new CE respects their views.
He main thing will be that the Swanage railway makes a good surplus with a good fund for unexpected operational problems, funds for projects.

The job spec has "engaging with the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership", most likely ensuring stations are well maintained, and transport links are good to the Swanage railway. This will be initially bus connections at Wareham station, and later looking at ways the DMU services can restart.

 

[Titfield]

The new CE maybe someone from the charity museum management sector with no railway experience. Maybe a front person for admin and fundraising.
Hopefully the department managers will have railway experience and the new CE respects their views.
He main thing will be that the Swanage railway makes a good surplus with a good fund for unexpected operational problems, funds for projects.

The job spec has "engaging with the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership", most likely ensuring stations are well maintained, and transport links are good. This wil bel initially bus connections at Wareham station, and later looking at ways the DMU services can restart.

The only way that rail services between Swanage and Wareham will restart is if a funding body is prepared to make good the losses that Swanage Railway is likely to incur on that service.

 

[michaelh]

Chief Executive - Swanage Railway - Swanage, Dorset - £Competitive (berwickpartners.co.uk)

Chief Executive - Swanage Railway - Swanage, Dorset - £Competitive (berwickpartners.co.uk)

as advertised on Swanage Railway Company: SR Staff - for all who work on or for the railway

Good to see the renewed confidence that the Swanage Railway is now displaying by investing in a Chief Executive to lead Swanage Railway into its next chapter of growth and success.

Who knows it may even mean that the Swanage <> Wareham link can run again if the new CEO is able to drive this forward.

as advertised on Swanage Railway Company: SR Staff - for all who work on or for the railway

Good to see the renewed confidence that the Swanage Railway is now displaying by investing in a Chief Executive to lead Swanage Railway into its next chapter of growth and success.

Who knows it may even mean that the Swanage <> Wareham link can run again if the new CEO is able to drive this forward.

Chief Executive - Swanage Railway - Swanage, Dorset - £Competitive (berwickpartners.co.uk)

as advertised on Swanage Railway Company: SR Staff - for all who work on or for the railway

Good to see the renewed confidence that the Swanage Railway is now displaying by investing in a Chief Executive to lead Swanage Railway into its next chapter of growth and success.

Who knows it may even mean that the Swanage <> Wareham link can run again if the new CEO is able to drive this forward.

Assume that there is a parallel bus service with a single fare of £2 and free for Seniors. How much did the railway charge?

 

[Invincible]

Assume that there is a parallel bus service with a single fare of £2 and free for Seniors. How much did the railway charge?

In 2023 after getting off the SWR mainline train at Wareham it was £25 to get the heratige DMU to Corfe, then change to the steam train to Swanage and return.

This year it means catching the bus to Corfe, then change to the steam train to Swanage and return. The steam train is £20 return, then with the buses a total of £24.

We don't know if the current Government will extend the bus £2 cap subsidy into 2025.

 

[jupiter]

Personally I think it needs a person with railway experience and preferably in the heritage and volunteering sector. They need to be way more than a flag-waving figurehead. The railway has pockets of really passionate and engaged people and they need bringing together and marshalling gently in the same direction. This needs someone who can look at the individual areas and prioritise them according to need, available funds and the common good. I believe that bit needs people-skills and railway experience.

 

[D Williams]

I think they need someone who can run a business without wasting time and money on stupid schemes like passenger services from Wareham! It is a heritage railway ie a living museum and that is how it has to be developed.

 

[BazingaTribe]

I think they need someone who can run a business without wasting time and money on stupid schemes like passenger services from Wareham! It is a heritage railway ie a living museum and that is how it has to be developed.

Yes, indeed -- the other issue might be what passenger services do to the character of Swanage and how the infrastructure changes/fits around e.g. Corfe. Railways create...mess. And I suspect also that Wareham as a jumping off point for rail travellers to Swanage would be equally invested in keeping people from just sipping through. It's also experiencing a boom and I'd imagine they want to keep the status quo where people walk into town for a bus and have to do something while waiting!

The reason I took road transport while backpacking as a young adult was because railways never gave you much to look at besides acres of track and industrial districts. Buses took me into places that were more interesting to look at and, while the vehicles need to be matched to the roads to avoid what I mentioned above, when they are matched right, it is a nicer experience all round. (I learned enough Lithuanian to work out which bus from Klaipėda to Kaunas went the long way round rather than just straight down the motorway. I got to see much more of the countryside and brush up against the Russian border at what used to be Tilsit rather than just see distance and exit signs, which in the Baltic States are disappointingly prosaic in appearance. My nerdery knows no bounds)

It would be a useful service from a personal perspective but I see what you mean. I'm in facilities delivery administration for the NHS and balancing a whole lot of different stakeholder concerns can be literally exhausting without the added problem of disgruntled people throwing a spanner in our works. I wouldn't blame them for thinking it's a big ask, despite it potentially being a big time and energy saver for myself.

 

[Titfield]

I think they need someone who can run a business without wasting time and money on stupid schemes like passenger services from Wareham! It is a heritage railway ie a living museum and that is how it has to be developed.

Stupid it may or may not be, the fact remains that Swanage Railway was the recipient of considerable sums of public money to facilitate Project Wareham. The new CEO will have to navigate the choppy waters caused by what some see as Swanage Railway reneging on their promise.

As regards mess some Heritage Railways seem to delight in creating what some describe as linear scrapyards.

 

[Invincible]

I suspect also that Wareham as a jumping off point for rail travellers to Swanage would be equally invested in keeping people from just sipping through.

The point of the Wareham service is to also promote the heritage steam railway by giving an easier way to get there from mainline stations.

I expect that First and Go-ahead , etc, will give up the rail contracts to GBR (but keep bus contracts). It's possible that GBR will want to promote leisure journeys by rail, and perhaps sponsor (with private companies?) the DMU rail link to the steam railway?

But the current emphasis is to support the current steam services to make a healthy surplus and ensure projects like the carriage shed progresses.

The Swanage railway has been struggling with some time to find a suitable person as a General Manager or CE. They may have to compromise to have someone with a good business background rather than railway experience (but with an appreciation of railways).

 

[Titfield]

The point of the Wareham service is to also promote the heritage steam railway by giving an easier way to get there from mainline stations.

But it was "sold" to the good people of Swanage and Corfe Castle as reinstating the rail link to enable them to access mainline rail services at Wareham.

 

[D Williams]

But it was "sold" to the good people of Swanage and Corfe Castle as reinstating the rail link to enable them to access mainline rail services at Wareham.

And it was given a fair trial, it didn't work so unless "the good people of Swanage and Corfe Castle" want to stump up a subsidy that is the end of the matter. While the amount of money wasted on this may seem a lot to us mere mortals it won't have turned a hair in the ivory tower of the council. That was last years budget , lets move on to the next crackpot scheme.

 

[Titfield]

And it was given a fair trial, it didn't work so unless "the good people of Swanage and Corfe Castle" want to stump up a subsidy that is the end of the matter. While the amount of money wasted on this may seem a lot to us mere mortals it won't have turned a hair in the ivory tower of the council. That was last years budget , lets move on to the next crackpot scheme.

Not sure you can claim it was given a fair trial given the timings of the service and the days of operation.

 

[Monty]

Not sure you can claim it was given a fair trial given the timings of the service and the days of operation.

With respect I don't think it was ever sold to Swanage and Corfe Castle residents as a viable alternative to the bus or car in order to use it for onward rail connections.

It was always about trying to attract people from London and the South East to visit as well as the additional bonus of trying to ease the congestion issues through Corfe. I think for the all the weeks I did those turns only a single passenger used it as onwards connection, after coming from London.

Additonal round trips may have been beneficial but would of meant additional costs which the railway can ill afford at present. But the fact is the market isn't there (for now).

 

[30907]

And I suspect also that Wareham as a jumping off point for rail travellers to Swanage would be equally invested in keeping people from just sipping through. It's also experiencing a boom and I'd imagine they want to keep the status quo where people walk into town for a bus and have to do something while waiting!

Do people do that, given that the bus stops at the station (admittedly on the north side)?

 

[BazingaTribe]

Do people do that, given that the bus stops at the station (admittedly on the north side)?

I've done it a few times myself when I've got a while to wait and wanted a coffee. The bus -- not infrequent, but IME didn't often line up with the trains -- goes up through Wareham and stops on the main parade, so it's nicer sitting in a tea room there than in a turning circle outside the station.

I've done it in reverse as well. It's a walk many people who are reasonably fit could do -- to be honest now with my injured ankle I'd probably skip Wareham, wait by the station and just get a coffee when I get to the house in Langton, but I did this lots during the early 2010s before I was engaged. My mum also did it when going down there -- my dad would go down on Friday night but she'd be busy on the Saturday, so after the event finished she'd take the train. I can't imagine her just sitting around at the station! I don't drive so navigating these systems is something I've done since I was young enough to go out on my own.

I realise that's only a data point of two people but I have seen others do it and had a nice conversation with someone.

 

[Titfield]

I've done it a few times myself when I've got a while to wait and wanted a coffee. The bus -- not infrequent, but IME didn't often line up with the trains -- goes up through Wareham and stops on the main parade, so it's nicer sitting in a tea room there than in a turning circle outside the station.

I've done it in reverse as well. It's a walk many people who are reasonably fit could do -- to be honest now with my injured ankle I'd probably skip Wareham, wait by the station and just get a coffee when I get to the house in Langton, but I did this lots during the early 2010s before I was engaged. My mum also did it when going down there -- my dad would go down on Friday night but she'd be busy on the Saturday, so after the event finished she'd take the train. I can't imagine her just sitting around at the station! I don't drive so navigating these systems is something I've done since I was young enough to go out on my own.

I realise that's only a data point of two people but I have seen others do it and had a nice conversation with someone.

The bus is hourly (except in the summer when it is twice hourly) whereas the train service is twice hourly hence the connection times can be longer than desired.

 

[paul1609]

With respect I don't think it was ever sold to Swanage and Corfe Castle residents as a viable alternative to the bus or car in order to use it for onward rail connections.

It was always about trying to attract people from London and the South East to visit as well as the additional bonus of trying to ease the congestion issues through Corfe. I think for the all the weeks I did those turns only a single passenger used it as onwards connection, after coming from London.

Additonal round trips may have been beneficial but would of meant additional costs which the railway can I'll afford at present.bthe fact is the market isn't there (for now).

Personally I think that it's time that all parties put the Wareham service to bed and concentrated on securing the future of the heritage railway.
The public money invested in the scheme is peanuts if you compare it with similar network rail schemes elsewhere. Several heritage Railways have had similar support for their core business in other parts of the country.
If whoever wrote the business case for the railway seriously thought it was going to attract visitors from London and anywhere east of Hampshire they just didn't understand the market.

 

[Titfield]

Personally I think that it's time that all parties put the Wareham service to bed and concentrated on securing the future of the heritage railway.

Perhaps one way to do this would be for Swanage Railway to withdraw / resign from the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership because membership of that body means being supportive of the PCRP objectives which include the operation of services between Wareham and Swanage.

 

[paul1609]

Perhaps one way to do this would be for Swanage Railway to withdraw / resign from the Purbeck Community Rail Partnership because membership of that body means being supportive of the PCRP objectives which include the operation of services between Wareham and Swanage.

Realistically going by that organisations website attending the AGM and one teams meeting a year probably isn't going to stretch the SRs resources.