Return to Sharpness

150 years ago eager travellers boarded the first passenger train to Sharpness. To celebrate this anniversary, the Vale of Berkeley Railway is running special train services on the Sharpness branch on 31st July, 1st August and 2nd August 2026.

This is your chance to be a railway pioneer – one of the first people to ride the Sharpness branch, over 60 years after the line closed to passengers. As well as reliving history, you'll also be supporting the Vale of Berkeley Railway; this is a crucial fundraising event for us, as we work to improve our facilities at Oldminster Sidings and establish the VoBR as a significant asset and focal point for the Sharpness community.

Your journey on our Class 143 Pacer train starts at our Oldminster Sidings base at Sharpness, passes the site of the former Berkeley Station and continues towards Berkeley Road junction, then returns to Sharpness. During the trip, a narrator will tell the story of the branch and the Pacer trains.

As an extra attraction, you can be a Driver for a Fiver on our Planet diesel shunter at Oldminster Sidings. Read on for more details about Return to Sharpness.

Tickets are limited! Book here

FAQs

How much does a ticket cost?

A ticket for one return trip is £20 for adults /£10 for children (4-15), plus a booking fee. Children under 4 travel free. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

How long does the Return to Sharpness journey last?

The journey lasts for about 45 minutes. There are no station stops during the trip, apart from boarding and disembarking at Oldminster Sidings.

Arriving by car.

Free parking is available at the Sharpness Sports and Social Club GL13 9UN what3words: ///interview.sports.sharpness

Our free shuttle bus will take you to and from Oldminster Sidings. Important: no parking is permitted at Oldminster Sidings or anywhere else in the Dock area.

Arriving by cycle. 

Please bring a bicycle lock with you and secure your bike at the Sharpness Sports and Social Club when you arrive. Important: cycles cannot be left at Oldminster Sidings or anywhere else in the Dock area.

Can I get there by public transport?

Yes. To encourage people to leave their cars at home and arrive by train, we're providing a free scheduled bus service from Cam & Dursley railway station to Oldminster Sidings, timed to connect with train services from Gloucester and Bristol. It will also pick up enroute at Cam Pitch and Berkeley High Street. This free bus service is exclusively for Return to Sharpness ticket holders.

Where do I catch this bus service?

Please make sure you are on time as the bus is scheduled and won't be able to wait. See below for the bus and train timetable.

• At Cam & Dursley station the bus will be at the exit from the platforms and will be clearly marked in the front window "Return to Sharpness".

• At Cam Pitch, pick up will be at the bus stop at the junction with Fairmead.

• At Berkeley Market Place it will be outside Ye Olde Shoppe.

It will drop off at the same locations on the return journey .

When should I arrive?

Please make sure you arrive at the Sharpness Sports and Social Club 30 mins before your booked Return to Sharpness train, to allow time for checking in. Shortly before your Return to Sharpness train is due, our free shuttle bus will take you to Oldminster Sidings (please don’t walk or cycle to the Sidings). After your journey the bus will bring you back to the Club.

Do I have to book or can I just turn up?

Travel on the Return to Sharpness train must be booked and your ticket(s) will be checked before you board. Tickets are available now: Book here

I have limited mobility; will I be able to attend?

There is level ground and ramp access to the train and each service will have spaces for 4 wheelchairs (please add the Wheelchair accessible space when booking). If you are arriving by car, you can be dropped off at Oldminster Sidings and the park nearby. If you have any further questions please email us at events@vobr.org.uk

Can I bring my mobility scooter?

Sorry, we are unable to accommodate mobility scooters.

Are dogs permitted?

Guide and support dogs are welcome, please let us know when booking. We are unable to accommodate other dogs.

Are toilets available on the train?

No, to meet current regulations the train toilets cannot be used.

What is the Driver for a Fiver experience?

Two Drivers for a Fiver will travel in the cab of our Planet diesel and under supervision, each will have the opportunity to drive the loco a short distance up and down the Sidings. The experience will last 10 – 15 minutes. You will need to be 18 or over with eyesight good enough to pass a UK driving test and must be able to climb up vertical steps into the locomotive unaided from ground level (approximately 2m vertical climb).

Are refreshments available?

Food and drink will be available at the Sharpness Sports and Social Club each day.

What else can I do at the Club?

While you’re at the Club you can also enjoy our Sharpness branch exhibition, browse our VoBR stand, chat to our volunteers and even join us as a VoBR member!

Why is the VoBR’s Return to Sharpness event happening now?

It’s to commemorate 150 years since the first passengers travelled on the Sharpness on 1st August 1876. It also celebrates achieving our long wished-for dream, to run our own trains on the branch so passengers can enjoy the experience for the first time in over 60 years. And by raising funds to make major improvements at Oldminster Sidings, it will support the VoBR's aim to educate and entertain visitors, explaining how railways played an important role at the heart of the Sharpness community.

Any questions?

Please email us: events@vobr.org.uk