Although in many ways 2008 has been a depressing year with both the weather and the economic situation contriving to discourage families from getting out and about, to say nothing of the landslip at Cheltenham, the GWR has fared extremely well. 

2008 doesn't go down as a record and beating the 71,118 passengers carried over the previous year was always going to be a challenge.  But the booking offices closed on 1^st January 2009 having sold 67,478 tickets which, although 5 per cent down on last year, is a very respectable result at a time when many local tourist attractions as well as heritage railways up and down the country are reflecting on a poor year. 

Retail and on train catering both appear to have bucked the trend each reporting a good year (numbers yet to be confirmed), underlining the fact that when it's cold and wet, people seek comfort through shopping, eating and drinking!  Financially, August proved to be a record month in terms of income for the railway.

The highlight during December was without doubt the Santa Specials, with 7,557 (7,353 last year) tickets sold representing an all-time record.  Similarly, the Carol Service Special in aid of the RNLI attracted 140 passengers (last year's charity Carol Service train: 95).  But the post-Christmas special events were a little down on the previous year, possibly because of the closure of Cheltenham Race Course station following the landslip.  The diesel day attracted 398 (462 in 2007) and the Christmas Cracker 1,568 (1,785 in 2007).

"Overall we should be pleased with these figures," says Colin Dymock, head station master.  "Many were predicting a disastrous year particularly with the Severn Valley Railway back in business after serious flooding closed their line for several months in 2007.  It looks as if in terms of income we will have had a better year than last year and although we may have carried slightly fewer passengers, they have nevertheless spent more money with us."

He added: "In 2007 the two weekend 'Days Out with Thomas' events attracted around 7,000 ticket sales.  Because of contractual difficulties, Thomas didn't visit last year although Paddington Bear came instead and attracted nearly 3,000 people.  That's a net loss of about 4,000 ticket sales - a little more than the 3,640 total shortfall compared with 2007.  This suggests that our underlying 'bread and butter' business is in very good shape." 

About 20 per cent of ticket sales were through Cheltenham Race Course booking office.

Click here for a graph illustrating ticket sales over the past three years and a commentary on the results.