THE festive spirit is in good supply at the Severn Valley Railway, which has seen its Christmas train service tickets sell faster than ever before.

More than 31,000 tickets for the 95 Santa Steam Special and Santa Herald services, which went on sale mid-September, have already been sold, and the remaining seats – less than 2,000 – are expected to be snapped up soon.

Seats on the Railway’s Christmas Carol Trains evening services have also sold out.

Clare Gibbard, from the SVR, said: “We are amazed at how quickly the tickets have sold – after just two weeks of them going on sale, we had already sold a third of the allocated places and now we are nearly at full capacity, though there are currently spaces remaining on our Christmas Eve trains – ideal for people looking for a special way to celebrate the build-up to the big day.

“Our Santa Steam Specials and Santa Heralds are our most popular services, and though they always do sell out, I don’t think we have ever seen so many bookings come flooding in so early.

“It seems that people really are getting into the festive spirit early this year, and we would urge anyone else who was planning to book a place to do so quickly to avoid disappointment.”

Santa himself will be arriving, fresh from Lapland to launch the Santa Steam Specials, which run on selected days between December 5 and December 24.

The SVR’s fleet of resident steam locomotives will be buffed and polished, ready to take families on exciting return steam train journeys from Kidderminster to meet Santa in his special grotto at Arley Station. Santa’s team of elves will be on hand to welcome visitors, and after meeting the big man himself, each fare-paying child will receive a present.

Visitors can then soak up the festive atmosphere of Arley Station at their leisure, enjoying some seasonal music favourites and indulging in some traditional treats including hot roasted chestnuts, before boarding the train for the return trip to Kidderminster.

Keeping a busy schedule this year, Santa will then be in fine form for the Santa Herald services on December 21, 22 and 23, when he will visit everyone on the train, handing out presents and posing for festive ‘selfies’ during the journey to Highley.

Limited places for SVR’s Festive Seasons Luncheon Trains, offering the chance to wine and dine in style while travelling through the Severn Valley Countryside, are still available. Alternatively, the Christmas Carvery Service, offering return diesel train travel from Kidderminster to the Engine House Visitor Centre, enables visitors to enjoy the many exhibits on offer before enjoying a leisurely lunch.

When all the excesses of Christmas are over, those looking for a way to relax can enjoy the SVR’s Festive Season Services, running from Boxing Day until January 3.

The Railway will then close for essential maintenance work, before re-opening for February half term.

For tickets, visit svr.co.uk or call 01562 757900 for Santa Steam Specials, Santa Heralds and dining car bookings on 01746 862387 for Christmas Carvery at the Engine House bookings.