Swanage Railway appoints first full time chief executive

In an important change to the management of Swanage Railway, the heritage attraction has recruited Dorset-born Abbie King to the newly created full time paid role of chief executive.

Having pulled through recent difficult financial times during the Covid pandemic, Swanage Railway has been advertising for a while to attract the right candidate to keep it on track for the future.

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Abbie King Swanage Railway first chief executive
Beth Gregory

Abbie King will become Swanage Railway’s first full time chief executive from mid March 2025

“Future proofed for generations to come”

High inflation, increasing employment costs, and the cost of living squeeze on peoples’ incomes have all adversely affected the railway’s finances. On the plus side, there’s been growing passenger numbers and a reinvigorated programme of special events which have been attracting new visitors.

Abbie King, who grew up in Dorset and used to work at the Tank Museum in Bovington, is currently a director of the charity Shrewsbury Ark in Shropshire, which helps homeless and vulnerable people.

In her role she has developed the charity’s business, board and mission as well as creating financial systems and supporting staff with their development.

She will be joining the Swanage Railway team from Monday 17th March 2025.

Abbie King said:

“I am looking forward to coming back to Dorset and joining the established team at the Swanage Railway to help make sure the wonderful heritage line is future proofed for generations to come.”

Swanage-station-first-day-14-Feb-1976
ANDREW PM WRIGHT COLLECTION

In 1976 volunteers started to rebuild the Victorian railway line which had been left to decay by British Rail

Swanage station at Swanage Railway Victorian weekend

Swanage station has now been restored but there’s plans for further improvement in 2025

Polar Express 2024
Andrew PM Wright

The Polar Express experience has brought a new way to bring income to the heritage railway

New phase of development

Work to restore the Swanage Railway branch line began in 1976, after being closed down by British Rail in 1972.

Since that time, volunteers, supported by a small team of staff, have managed to turn the railway into a major tourist attraction, while also physically reconnecting it to the rail network at Wareham.

Now entering a new phase of its development, the new chief executive will be tasked with ensuring its future profitability.

Gavin Johns and Frank Roberts on the Polar Express 2023

Gavin Johns (left) and Frank Roberts (right) volunteer their time to keep the railway running

“Ambitious plans”

Gavin Johns who is the chair of Swanage Railway Company in a voluntary capacity said:

“I am delighted to welcome Abbie King as our new chief executive. Abbie’s wide breadth of experience is very relevant to the Swanage Railway and the way that it needs to develop to position itself for the future.

“Abbie’s Dorset roots bring a vital perspective that will enable her to quickly establish relationships with staff, stakeholders and our visitors that will support the Swanage Railway’s aims.

“The Swanage Railway is working hard to stabilise its business following the pandemic – and the effects of increased material and operating costs – to create a sustainable base for the future with 2024 trading being a positive step towards this aim.

“Part of our plans require the extra day to day support of a chief executive for the shaping and leading for our management team and staff – including our crucial volunteers – as they develop and deliver our ambitious plans.

“The newly created chief executive role focuses on developing the business so it delivers our charitable aims and business plans to establish the Swanage Railway as a living museum by bringing in new thinking and experience, continuing the improvement of railway management and focusing on investing to improve the experience for our valued visitors.”

Railway 200 Whistle Up at Swanage Railway
Andrew PM Wright

New year’s day 2025 signalled the start of celebrations marking 200 years of passenger railways

Career in the tourism industry

Abbie studied travel and tourism at Weymouth College before going on to university to study business and finance.

Wanting to build a career in museums and heritage, Abbie worked at Weymouth Museum before moving to Merlin Entertainments within its Sea Life brand.

Working at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth led to a new challenge working for the Lulworth Estate in the Isle of Purbeck where Abbie managed commercial interests at Lulworth Cove.

From 2012, Abbie was the visitor services manager for the Tank Museum at Bovington near Wareham where she helped to increase the number of visitors and commercial activity while keeping the integrity of the museum’s mission.

Abbie later became the assistant director of the Shire Hall historic courthouse museum in Dorchester before taking on the role of director at the museum in 2020 where she created a profitable museum while keeping its missions of learning and being a social justice hub.

In 2023, Abbie moved to the midlands to take on the role of chief operating officer at the Ironbridge Gorge museums where she worked with a large and effective team caring for some of the world’s most important industrial heritage sites.

Swanage Railway steam loco T9 30120 at Corfe Castle
ANDREW PM WRIGHT

Swanage Railway has so much to attract visitors from the UK and around the world

“New and fresh ideas”

Volunteer and chair of the Swanage Railway Trust Frank Roberts said:

“I look forward to working with Abbie as the Swanage Railway Company’s new chief executive and welcoming her to the Swanage Railway family which has achieved so much across the generations, and against the odds, since the heritage line started to be rebuilt in 1976.

“Abbie’s role is crucial and part of an important plan to take the Swanage Railway to the next stage in its development – bringing in new and fresh ideas to increase our income so we can achieve an enhanced heritage experience for our train passengers.”

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