Mark Garnier invited 5 Peers and 4 MPs, along with family and friends, to visit the Severn Valley Railway on Firday (13th April 2012). Representatives of the Heritage Rail Association and Theresa Villiers, Minister of State for Railways, also attended.
Mark organised the visit as co-founder and Treasurer of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Heritage Rail, a group set up to brief parliamentarians about heritage railways, the contribution they make to their local and regional economies and the skills and training opportunities involved.
Speaking after the event Mark said:
"It was an extremely enjoyable day and I am delighted that so many MPs and Peers were able to come and see what a fantastic tourist spot SVR is in Wyre Forest.
"I felt that it was important to have this day for two reasons; the first was to give MPs and Peers the opportunity engage with the heritage rail community. If we are engaged then we will be more able to react quickly to issues that affect them, especially unintended consequences of otherwise sensible legislation; the second reason was so that I could highlight the excellent examples of good practice that the SVR can offer other heritage railways."
Attendees included:
MPs
Rt Hon Theresa Villiers - Minister of State for Transport
Nicky Morgan (MP for Loughborough)
Mark Garnier (MP for Wyre Forest)
Karen Bradley (MP for Staffordshire Moorlands)
Harriet Baldwin (MP forWest Worcestershire)
Peers
Lord Faulkner of Worcester
Lord Methuen
Lord Rosser
Lord Snape
Heritage Rail Association
David Morgan - Chairman
Mark Smith - Vice Chairman
Chris Austin - Co-secretary, APPGHR
Neil Butters - Co-secretary, APPGHR