Dartmouth gets a spot on National Rail map as GWR offers unique ticket to picturesque town
Great Western Railway is inviting customers to take a unique journey to Dartmouth this summer – via train, steam railway and boat.
The train operator has teamed up with the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company to offer a through ticket direct to Dartmouth.
Sightseers can travel by GWR train to Paignton, before connecting with the steam train to Kingswear, and then the foot passenger ferry service to Dartmouth.
GWR Commercial Director Phil Delaney said:
“We’re proud to serve some truly breathtaking destinations on our network and I’m delighted we can now add Dartmouth to that list with this wonderful through ticket.
“It’s great that we’ve been able to put this partnership in place with Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company (DSRRB). I believe our customers will love this unique opportunity to travel by GWR train, steam railway and boat to one of the most picturesque spots the south west has to offer.
“Purchasing your ticket couldn’t be simpler, either online or through the GWR app. Just remember to input Kingswear (for Dartmouth) in the journey planner and the following day you could be experiencing a truly memorable day out.”
The new ticket was championed by Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall, who has worked closely with GWR and DSRRB to make sure it was on sale in time for the summer holidays.
Mr Mangnall said:
"This new link and cooperation between GWR and the Dartmouth steam railway offers a romantic and unique way of arriving in South Devon.
"I hope residents, visitors and tourists alike will make full use of the throughfare ticket to Dartmouth via Kingswear. This partnership has long been an ambition of mine and I am incredibly pleased to see it come to fruition."
Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company Managing Director John Jones said:
“This is a great opportunity for the Dartmouth Steam Railway – it is very exciting to be able to link up with GWR to offer visitors from far and wide the opportunity to enjoy a trip on our steam trains and boats. Passengers are sure to enjoy both the fantastic views and, fingers crossed, the amazing weather!
“I’d like to say a really big thank you to both Anthony Mangnall and GWR for getting this new venture up and running.”
Bookings are available from Monday (13 June) with Tuesday 14 June the first day of travel and will remain on sale until Sunday 30 October when the Steam service ceases for the winter. Tickets are only available when purchased in advance. Bookings close 23.59 the day before travel and reservations are mandatory.
For more information about the special GWR through ticket visit here, and for the Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company, visit Dartmouth Rail River.
Contact Information
John Carter
Media and Communications Manager
Great Western Railway
0845 410 4444
Notes to editors
- Purchase a ticket to Dartmouth direct with GWR through our website or app
- Input Kingswear (for Dartmouth) as your destination/origin in the journey planner
- As well as the steam train journey between Paignton and Kingswear, customers can use their Dartmouth national rail ticket at no additional cost on the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company DSRRB foot passenger service between Kingswear and Dartmouth (the ferry crossing takes between 5 and 10 minutes).
- Customers are advised to leave Dartmouth 20-30 minutes before their DSRRB train from Kingswear towards Paignton to allow for connections. The ferry service will operate to connect in and out of steam train services arriving and departing at regular intervals.
First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR was recently awarded an extension to its direct award franchise (called DA3), which shall run up to 31 March 2023, with an option to extend for a further year. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us