AFTER months of behind the scenes hard work and storm damage delays, the Bodmin And Wenford Railway and First Great Western in association with the Plymouth based Devon And Cornwall Rail Partnership were able to announce their ground breaking inclusive ticketing deal.

Believed to be the first such arrangement between a heritage railway and a national railway company, passengers can now travel from any station in Cornwall and Plymouth through to Bodmin General and Boscarne Junction and return for just £12 (Seniors £11, Children £6).

In effect travel on the mainline is free. From any station in Devon (as far apart as Barnstaple and Exmouth, Tiverton and Paignton) the fare is a very good value £20 (Seniors £19, Children £10).

To mark the occasion a special train (Pannier tank no. 6435 and 1881 built GWR Special Saloon) with invited guests ran from Bodmin General, and was in the adjoining platform at Bodmin Parkway to coincide with FGW's 1119 hours departure to Paddington.