THE Severn Valley Railway has yet another cause to celebrate in their jubilee year after winning their second national accolade in just three months.

Currently celebrating its Golden Jubilee, the Railway has been crowned the Best Preserved Railway for Groups in the 2015 Group Travel Awards, which recognises the best suppliers in the group travel industry.

Readers of the national magazine, Group Travel Organiser, were asked to vote for who they think are the best suppliers in the industry in more than 20 categories, rating their visitor experience from start to finish.

The much-loved attraction beat off heavy competition from other heritage railways from across the UK, including West Somerset Railway and the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

No stranger to the award, SVR was named runner-up in the Best Attraction for Group Visits – Long Visit category of the awards in 2013 – coming second to Buckingham Palace – and has once again won the hearts of group travellers.

The win comes just three months after the attraction was voted Heritage Site of the Year in the BBC Countryfile Magazine awards, beating off stiff competition from some of the UK’s most famous tourism attractions.

The SVR’s marketing and communications manager, Clare Gibbard, said that winning the award was fantastic news.

She added: “To win an award – and to know that we have been voted for by our visitors themselves, is a wonderful recognition of the work that our group travel organisers, staff and volunteers put in each day to make sure that all of our visitors have the best possible experience here at the Railway.

“This will most definitely add even more sparkle to this exceptional year for us and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted for us.”