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These services operated to Highley on a decorated steam train with Santa meeting every family on the train handing out gifts and posing for photographs. Operationally both were top and tailed, the Bridgnorth-originating services with steam and the Kidderminster services steam and diesel.
A 'Steam in Lights' evening illuminated steam service operates operated from Bridgnorth. This did not feature Santa.
Carol Trains, Christmas Carvery, Dining Trains, Schools steam services and post-Christmas services continued.
==2020 onwards==
The [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|COVID-19 pandemic]] lead to pre-booking Christmas events, using compartment stock for all services. The 2020 operation involved two sets for the Santa services and one for Steam in Lights. Santa trains were steam-hauled departures from Kidderminster to Arley for a Santa Pantomime and presents distributed on the train to minimise face-to-face contact. For Steam in Lights evening return trips were planned from Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade, with a steam loco on the north end and diesel on the south end.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blsep20 Branch Lines newsletter, September 2020] (Retrieved 29 August 2020)</ref> Carol Trains, Christmas Carvery, Dining Trains and Schools steam services did not run. The imposition of a second lockdown in November included dates for the early services, which where cancelled. Services restarted as planned on 3 December but were again suspended due to additional restrictions from 31 December.
A similar experience was announced for 2021, with a significantly increased number of Steam in Lights operating days. Additionally, it included the 'Enchanted Express' between Bridgnorth and Highley, based around the classic poem ''‘Twas the Night Before Christmas'', narrated by actress Dame Julie Walters<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug21 Branch Lines, August 2021]</ref>. Carol Trains restarted but Christmas Carvery, Dining Trains and Schools steam services did not. 2022 saw an increase in dates run, services, capacity and prices. 10 days of Enchanted Express started on 26 November. Steam in Lights ran 19 dates from 18 November, extending to three days before New Year and incorporating new displays. Santa trains ran on 13 days: the marquee at Arley incorporated tiered seating and 20% more seats to accommodate the greater number of passengers following the end of social distancing.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blnov22 Branch Lines November 2022]</ref> On train dining recommenced.
==Passenger numbers==
| 2019 ||style="text-align:right;" |''~32,000'' || Bridgnorth and Kidderminster to Highley ||<ref name=SVR2019/> || A planned reduction in Santa Services numbers of 4,178.
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| 2020 ||style="text-align:right;" | || Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade (Steam in Lights) and Kidderminster to Arley (Santa'sSantas) || || Reduced capacity due to COVID-19 and last weekend in November cancelled due to lockdown restrictions. One day's festive services also lost due to weather.|-| 2021 ||style="text-align:right;" | || Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade (Steam in Lights) and Kidderminster to Arley (Santas) || || |-| 2022 ||style="text-align:right;" | ''~31,000''|| Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade (Steam in Lights), Bridgnorth to Highley (Enchanted Express) and Kidderminster to Arley (Santas) || ||
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==Links==
[[Category: Special events]]
