Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Overview
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) is a heritage railway, operating preserved steam and diesel trains, on a 5 mile line between Keighley, Haworth and Oxenhope. The KWVR is a standard gauge line which joins the national railway network at Keighley and runs 5-miles up the valleys of the River Worth and Bridgehouse Beck to Oxenhope. The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society was formed upon the closure of the line by British Railways in 1962 with the aim of returning a daily passenger service to the Worth Valley area. The Railway is perhaps most famous for its role in the 1970 film version of Edith Nesbit's story The Railway Children, but has played host to many film crews, the most notable in recent years has been the World War 1 drama, Testament of Youth and the children's classic, Swallows & Amazons and the successful TV series Peaky Blinders. Having reopened in 1968, the Worth Valley branch line has been operated and managed almost entirely by qualified volunteer members of the Preservation Society ever since. Trains operate every weekend, all year round, and daily during the summer and school holiday periods. In the years since its reopening, not only has the KWVR developed into one of the country's premier 'heritage' railways, it has continued a tradition of service to the communities along the Worth Valley and those who use the line to visit the stunningly beautiful surrounding countryside, operating rail services on more than 200 days per year.
Contact details
The Railway Station Station Road Haworth West Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber BD22 8NJ United Kingdom
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Access Card notes
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway attracts a wide variety of visitors and welcomes all in society irrespective of age, gender or any impairment whether physical, intellectual or sensory. Wherever possible, the KWVR strives very hard to provide access for people of all ages who have a variety of mobility or other special needs. We are committed to making everyone's visit to the railway as enjoyable as possible. Everyone's needs are different, and here at the KWVR, we strive to ensure that everyone is catered for. Parking at all our stations (except Damems) has suitable access for disabled passengers and most days we have a specially adapted coach on some of the trains. However, the Railway, its stations and rolling stock date back many years and not all facilities can be adapted for the needs of everyone. Our volunteer staff are very willing and always happy to provide help and assistance whenever we can. Wheelchair users who travel in their wheelchair during their visit can purchase a Day Rover Ticket with a 50% discount. One person travelling with the wheelchair user can also enjoy a 50% discount. Whilst we do have accessible carriages, they cannot be conveyed on all trains, and on some trains wheelchair users may need to travel in the Guard's Van. The Essential Companion scheme means that those persons who are unable to visit us without the assistance of a companion can get one or two complimentary Day Rover tickets for their companion(s), when they buy a Day Rover ticket for themselves. The Wheelchair User and Essential Companion schemes are available on special events, but not on special trains where additional products and services are offered.
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Access guidance
- Ticket purchasing is a quick and easy process, and as our visitors arrive at our different stations at different times, queuing is rare. On some special events there may be occasional queues to access some facilities , such as our tea rooms. If this is the case, please speak to our staff who will be happy to help you. Our trains rarely become crowded, and provide ample seating for all our visitors. Our annual Beer Festival event can be extremely busy and may not be suitable for visitors who are unable to stand up or queue to access the event sites and bars areas.
- All our stations, except Damems station, have level access to the station. Accessible toilet facilities are available at Keighley, Haworth and Oxenhope stations. Specially adapted accessible carriages with wider doors and converted seating areas allow wheelchair users to board the train easily and travel in the same passenger saloon as other visitors. However we are not able to provide an accessible carriage on every train, especially those which are formed of compartment carriages, which do not have vestibules or gangways and have narrow doorways which, due to the age and construction of the carriages, cannot be adapted. On these trains wheelchair users who are unable to leave their wheelchair may need to travel in the Guard's Van. All our trains carry ramps to provide level access between the platform and the train. Please ask our staff to deploy the ramp for you. Mobility scooters that can be folded entirely down (the user's responsibility) and carried on board, similar to a piece of luggage, can travel on our trains. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any other type of mobility scooter for safety reasons. The Old Parcels Office cafe at Keighley station is accessible to wheelchair users, however our Tea Room at Oxenhope station is not currently accessible.
- The KWVR is a "branch line" and therefore our stations are small and compact with facilities all close together. Keighley station is located in a town centre and we share this station with the National Rail network, so this is a larger station with 4 different platforms. Car Parks at all stations are immediately adjacent to the platform. At Keighley station however there is a short walk via the road overbridge to enter the station. At all stations (except Keighley on some event dates) our trains depart from a single platform, so there is no need to cross to different platforms. Ticket Offices and other facilities such as toilets and cafes are situated on the platforms or in the station buildings.
- Toilet facilities are available at all stations. Some trains also carry toilet facilities, which are generally located in the Bar Carriage. The KWVR is a short line and the journey time between stations is short, being approximately 5 minutes travel time between each station. If you need access to toilet facilities in a hurry, and we are not yet due to arrive at the station you are due to alight at, and you cannot access the toilet on the train, please let the Guard or Ticket Inspector know on the train, or if we arrive at a station, let the staff on the station platform know. Where possible the train may be able to wait for you.
- We welcome Assistance Dogs on all trains and at all facilities. There is no charge for Assistance Dogs to travel on the train. Most stations will have a water bowl on the platform when we are open. If you cannot see or find this, do ask the staff on the station and they will be happy to point this out to you, or provide one if it is not immediately available. Keighley station is located in a town centre location and has limited areas for dog toileting nearby, likewise Ingrow station is adjacent to a main road. At these stations there are gardens adjacent to the platforms. However our other stations are located in village locations and there are plentiful areas for dog walking and toileting nearby to all our stations.
- If you are unable to visit us without support from another person then our Essential Companion Scheme means you can get one free entry ticket for your companion if you have the +1 logo, or two free entry tickets for your companions if you have the +2 logo on your access card, when you buy a Day Rover Ticket for yourself. This applies on our all inclusive Day Rover Ticket but not on individual single or return tickets.
- Our facilities are currently limited for those who have difficulty accessing visual information. However our stations are fitted with public address systems which will communicate information about train arrivals and departures and important safety information in an audible format. We continue to seek ways we can improve in this area.