Our Values
Our Values & Commitment
At Bure Valley Railway, our values guide everything we do - from preserving the magic of steam to protecting the countryside and supporting the community we serve. We are proud to be recognised not only as one of the top heritage railways in the UK, but also as a leader in sustainability and our community. At Bure Valley Railway, our values - environment, heritage, and community - are more than words. They are the track our railway runs on, shaping every decision we make and every journey we create.
Environment
We’re committed to making steam more sustainable. Bure Valley Railway is leading national trials of e-coal for heritage use, supported by the Advanced Steam Traction Trust, the Heritage Railway Association and Network Rail.
E-coal blends coal dust with waste biomass from olive oil production, a material that would otherwise go to landfill, and cuts CO₂ emissions by 42%. This innovation helps us preserve steam while reducing our environmental impact.
Our efforts were recognised with the Heritage Railway Association Award for Environmental Innovation in March 2022.
We also care for the habitats along our line. With guidance from Norfolk Wildlife Trust and ecological experts, we manage our landscape sustainably, including protecting precious wildflower meadows so nature can thrive beside the railway.
“We are proud to be taking a leading role in the environmental sustainability of steam railways and at the same time recognised as one of the top steam railways in the country.”
Andrew Barnes, Managing Director
Heritage
The Bure Valley Railway opened in July 1990 on the former Great Eastern Railway trackbed between Wroxham and Aylsham. The original line (1880–1982) carried passengers and freight before closing, and was later reborn through a partnership between local government and the private sector as Norfolk’s longest narrow-gauge railway, running nine miles alongside a public footpath. Learn more about the history of the railway.
Today, over 100,000 visitors a year enjoy steam journeys through the Norfolk Broads. Operated on a not-for-profit basis, the railway is led by Andrew and Susan, supported by a small staff and dedicated volunteers. Meet the Bure Valley team.
Our heritage is shaped by people as much as locomotives. Andrew’s childhood passion for railways eventually brought him to Norfolk as a volunteer, and that same enthusiasm continues to drive the whole team.
Community
Community sits at the heart of the Bure Valley Railway. As a not-for-profit organisation, everything we earn is reinvested to improve and preserve the railway.
Our volunteers are key to our success, giving their time and skills to help us thrive. It’s a rewarding way to get involved, meet people and learn something new, and we’re always happy to welcome new faces.
We also support the local economy by working with Norfolk suppliers where possible and encouraging visitors to explore nearby towns, villages and local attractions during their day out.
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Our Staff & Volunteers
Meet the team behind Bure Valley Railway. Led by Andrew and Susan, our dedicated staff and volunteers keep Norfolk’s much-loved heritage railway running.
