Over the summer holidays, Swanage Railway is running a Sunset Shuttle service between Swanage and Corfe Castle in Dorset, allowing passengers to leave the car at home.
The heritage diesel train service staffed by railway volunteers is operating from 6.30 pm on Friday and Saturday evenings until Saturday 7th September 2024 and daily during Swanage Carnival Week from Saturday 27th July to Saturday 3rd August 2024.
The Swanage Railway team that have volunteered for evenings and weekends to make the Sunset Shuttle possible!
The Sunset Shuttle will be either a 1950s diesel mechanical multiple unit or 1950s Mark One carriages hauled by a 1960 Class 33 heritage diesel locomotive
Unlimited evening travel
The Sunset Shuttle tickets give unlimited evening travel from 6 pm on the date of purchase and are £10 for adults and £5 for children aged five to 15 years.
With departures from Swanage station at 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm, 8.30 pm, 9.30 pm and 10.30 pm and return trains departing from Corfe Castle station at 7 pm, 8 pm, 9 pm, 10 pm and 11 pm, the timetable allows enough time to book an evening meal and have a few drinks at one of Corfe Castle’s many popular pubs.
Of course, it also offers Corfe Castle and Harman’s Cross residents and visitors to visit the bright lights of Swanage for the evening.
A romantic night out on the Sunset Shuttle with views of Corfe Castle
The service will serve Swanage, Herston Halt, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle as well as Norden at certain times or on request, allowing those staying at nearby campsites to hop on the train
Murder mystery and Harry Potter
And to liven things up even more, there will be a murder on the train on the evening of Friday 2nd August and Saturday, 17th August 2024, as part of a special Murder Mystery event. Seats in the special carriages need to be pre-booked and cost more than the Sunset Shuttle prices.
There are also plans to operate the Sunset Shuttle for the Purbeck Film Festival’s season of Cinema Under the Stars when the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will be shown in the grounds of National Trust’s Corfe Castle at 8.45 pm on Friday 23rd August 2024.
Those catching the train for the Harry Potter showing are encouraged to dress as characters from the film, so Muggles may well end up mingling with wizards!
Less theatrically, the evening train service will also operate during the Swanage Folk Festival from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th September 2024, which will allow those staying at campsites along the line to take advantage of the Sunset Shuttle.
Taking the train means that passengers can enjoy something a bit stronger than coffee on an evening out!
Back to Swanage by midnight
“Let the train take the strain”
Swanage Railway volunteer commercial director Robert Patterson said:
“There is no better way to enjoy the beautiful Isle of Purbeck countryside than from our summer holidays Sunset Shuttle heritage diesel train service connecting hotels as well as camping and caravan sites with restaurants and bars in Corfe Castle and Swanage.
“Combining value and convenience, it has never been easier to leave the car and let the train take the strain.
“While discounted tickets are available for the Sunset Shuttle – giving unlimited evening travel from 6 pm for the date of purchase – daytime return tickets and Freedom of the Line unlimited travel tickets can also.be used on the Sunset Shuttle trains.”
Further information
- More about the Sunset Shuttle
- Pre-book the Swanage Railway Murder Mystery evening
- Tickets for Purbeck Film Festival’s Cinema Under the Stars film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone at National Trust Corfe Castle
- More about Swanage Folk Festival
