The Spud Train
New dining experience - enjoy a delicious jacket potato whilst travelling on a heritage steam train
Tuck into a spud, complete with toppings of your choice, from the comfort of our preserved carriages, experiencing the nostalgic sights, sounds and smells of the steam railway as you travel through 10 miles of beautiful Hampshire countryside, adjacent to the South Downs National Park.Â
Your ticket allows you to ride the train all day, with the opportunity to hop on and off at the four heritage stations along the line.
Choose Your Spud
Each boxed meal includes your choice of jacket potato, served with your choice of the following toppings:
Butter
Cheese
Beans
Chilli
Tuna
All options are available with cheese.
Please select your toppings when booking.
Your boxed meal will be served to you in the West Country Buffet 15 minutes in advance of the train departing Alresford Station at 1pm or 3pm.
If you have any further dietary requirements or allergies, please make your booking and email your booking reference to reservations@watercressline.co.uk, letting them know your requirements.
What's included?
• Each visitor will enjoy a boxed Jacket Potato, served with toppings of their choice.
• Unlimited travel on the day of your booking.
What's On
• Visitors must arrive at Alresford Station at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time (1pm or 3pm).
• Collect your boxed Jacket Potato from the West Country Buffet and take a seat in any available carriage.
• Drinks are available to purchase from the West Country Buffet and onboard the train.
Partners
The Naked Grape is a proudly independent, family-owned wine merchant dedicated to helping customers find the perfect bottle – regardless of their level of wine knowledge. Their strength lies in genuine, knowledgeable conversation and carefully tailored recommendations.
Every wine on their shelves has been personally tasted and selected by the team. If they don’t love it, they don’t stock it – simple as that. The Naked Grape specialises in wines from small, family-run producers who craft honest, characterful wines with real stories behind them. But above all, it’s about the taste.
They steer clear of mass-market bottles found everywhere else and embrace the joy of discovering wines you won’t find just anywhere. Their curated range spans the globe, offering standout examples and exceptional value across styles and regions.
Enjoy three wines from The Naked Grape on your unique wine tasting journey at The Watercress Line.
Pinglestone Estate – home to Louis Pommery – was established in 2017 by Vranken-Pommery Monopole, becoming the first Champagne House to plant vines in England. Drawing on over 200 years of heritage and expertise, they selected premium chalk-rich land in Hampshire’s downlands for their 35-hectare vineyard.
Set on a unique 360° aspect overlooking the South Downs National Park and the confluence of the River Itchen and the Arle, the estate grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Gris using regenerative farming methods that prioritise biodiversity and sustainability.
Crafted using the traditional method, the wines are elegant, refined, and proudly English.
Will Perkins, a Hampshire native, began his winemaking journey with Hattingley Valley. After five years as Assistant Winemaker, he gained international experience across renowned wine regions including South Africa, Spain, New Zealand, and Australia. Returning home in 2022 to join Pinglestone Estate, Will sees it as a chance to reconnect with the land and community that shaped him.
Tickets
Adults
Price Per Person
£32.50
Children (up to 14 years)
Price Per Person
£18.00
Please note:
This is a self-led experience. Guests will collect their boxed jacket potato from the West Country Buffet before boarding.
There is no reserved seating – you’re free to sit anywhere you like on the train.
Booking fee of £2.50 may apply.
Parking
Alresford: Pay & display car park, operated by Winchester City Council.
Disabled parking and electric charge points are available. Cash or RingGo app location 42519.
The company does not guarantee that the trains will arrive or depart at the times stated and reserves the right to cancel, alter or suspend any train without notice, or to substitute a different train should this be necessary for whatever reason.
