BUSINESS is certainly on track at Swanage Railway.

The popular tourist attraction says it is boom time on the Purbeck Line and it is laying on more trains as summer gets into full swing.

Passenger figures for the period February to May 2009 are up 34 per cent on the same time in 2008, with almost 30,000 passengers in April and more than 26,000 in May.

The railway has already made headlines this year, with the first through passenger trains from London to Swanage in 40 years attracting thousands of visitors in April and May.

It has resulted in five extra services running each Tuesday and Thursday until July 9 and the summer peak timetable – which sees steam trains running every 40 minutes – is being brought in five days earlier than planned, on July 13.

Swanage Railway chairman Mike Whitwam said passenger numbers were swelled by media coverage of the London to Swanage trips, good weather, more people holidaying in the UK because of the recession and the quality of the railway as an attraction.

He said: “So far, 2009 has been a year of unprecedented growth for the Swanage Railway and we are set to enjoy our best ever year.

“February to May of this year has been the best ever period since the Swanage Railway ran its first train over a few hundred yards of hand-laid track at Swanage in August, 1979.

“This has been an exceptional start, well beyond what we would have expected at the beginning of the year.

“The substantial rise in passengers has been hard work, but our volunteers and small team of full-time staff have responded very well. We continue to be known as a very friendly and welcoming railway.”