A HERITAGE rail line is steaming ahead as it is revealed it carried a record-breaking 217,080 passengers during 2015.

By the end of last year, more than 2,400 Swanage Railway steam and diesel-hauled passenger trains had run a total of more than 28,000 miles which is further than travelling around the entire circumference of the Earth.

A registered charity, the Swanage Railway Trust plans and develops the Swanage Railway with the Trust’s trading subsidiary – the Swanage Railway Company – running the train service and special events across the year.

All profits from running the steam and diesel trains – as well as related commercial activity – are ploughed back into the Swanage Railway for its development and continuous improvement.

Swanage Railway Company chairman and Swanage Railway volunteer Trevor Parsons said: “Carrying 217,080 passengers during 2015 represents a lot of hard work by the people who run the trains, staff the stations and maintain the line and infrastructure required to keep trains running – day in and day out – for the pleasure of the public.

“Our volunteers and small team of paid staff have worked very hard throughout 2015 to produce such a fantastic result. Everyone is elated.

“While very enjoyable and fulfilling, it takes a great deal of enthusiasm and commitment on the part of many people to run our steam and diesel train services throughout the year.

“I would like to say a very big thank you to everyone whose hard work has resulted in these very gratifying passenger figures for 2015. We’re looking forward to an even better 2016,” added Mr Parsons who is also a volunteer train guard and signalman on the Purbeck heritage line.

Swanage Railway general manager Matt Green said: “Carrying a record-breaking total of 217,080 passengers during 2015 has been a truly amazing performance bearing in mind the wet weather during the summer.

“Last year’s passenger total demonstrates the appeal of travelling by steam train on one of Britain’s most idyllic heritage railways through the beautiful Purbeck countryside,” added Mr Green.

In 2014, the Swanage Railway carried a total of 216,267 passengers.