Present Day Swindon & Cricklade Railway
The railway currently runs between Blunsdon, Hayes Knoll, and Taw Valley Halt, with ongoing efforts to further extend the line. It offers a nostalgic experience of steam and diesel train rides and hosts various special events throughout the year. The Swindon and Cricklade Railway remains a community-driven project, preserving the region’s railway heritage and providing a hands-on educational experience.
Preservation and Revival
In 1978, a group of railway enthusiasts formed the Swindon and Cricklade Railway Society with the aim of restoring part of the line as a heritage railway. Restoration work began at Blunsdon station, and the first stretch of track reopened in 1981, exactly 100 years after the original line opened. The railway was extended southwards towards Swindon and north towards Cricklade, with Hayes Knoll added as a key operational site, including workshops and locomotive facilities.
History of the Swindon & Cricklade Railway
The original Swindon and Cricklade Railway line was part of the Midland and South Western Junction Railway (M&SWJR), which provided a north-south connection between Cheltenham and Southampton. Opened in 1881, the line served both passenger and freight traffic, linking key towns and providing access to industrial and agricultural markets. It became part of the Great Western Railway (GWR) during the 1923 grouping of railways. Like many railways in Britain, the Swindon and Cricklade line faced declining usage after World War II. Increased road transport competition and changes in transportation needs reduced its profitability. Under the Beeching Report recommendations of the 1960s, much of the line was closed. Passenger services ended in 1961, and goods traffic ceased in 1964.