Show could be just ticket to woo tourists

YORKSHIRE'S tourism chiefs are ready for a first class summer after children's classic The Railway Children found a new platform at Waterloo Station yesterday as part of a campaign to raise the region's profile.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Jul 2010, 01:15 BST
Updated 7th Jul 2010, 01:15 BST

Guests celebrating at the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York are hoping for a repeat of the success of the 1970 film version in attracting visitors when the play is staged in the specially created Welcome to Yorkshire Theatre in the old Eurostar terminal in London.

Up to 1,000 people a day are expected to enjoy the show which stars Marshall Lancaster, of Ashes to Ashes, in the stationmaster's role made famous by Bernard Cribbins.

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During the show the Stirling Single steam locomotive will pull in the Gentleman's Carriage which appeared in the film. Train and carriage travelled to the capital on low loaders from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the NRM in York.

The redundant Eurostar platforms have been turned into a theatre, with the audience seated on two sides of the engine for the production – based on the book by E Nesbit – which started life at the NRM and runs in London until September 5.

Gary Verity, of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "Yorkshire is a showstopper in its own right so we are being deliberately visible and high profile in London because the potential returns in terms of increased visitor numbers are huge."

Related topics:The Railway ChildrenYorkshireYorkLondonEurostar