IT was another good year for the West Somerset Railway, according to the management team.

A record number of passengers - 172,457 - travelled on the line between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard, nearly two per cent more than last year.

WSR managing director Mark Smith said: "After the rise in 2001 when we saw an increase of nearly ten per cent in passenger figures, there were many who doubted if we could sustain the rise.

"So we are very pleased to have once again welcomed even more passengers to our trains, stations and the communities along the route."

Although the company now stops running trains until mid-February, this period is one of the busiest for staff and volunteers.

"Our engineers will be busy at work on track, signalling, locomotives and carriages while our commercial staff will be mailing out information about the railway to guest houses, hotels and tourist information centres to spread the word about our programme for 2003.

"Meanwhile station staff will be painting and maintaining and much else will be afoot to have us ready for the new season," said Mr Smith.

Features for the new season include a Friday afternoon 'Cream and Steam' train and on some summer evenings, armchair detectives will be able to take part in 'Murder on the Williton Flyer'.

More information is available on 01643 704996.