Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long will a visit to the railway last?

Most visits typically last 4 hours with groups arriving at 10.00am / 10.30am and departing from our stations (depending where your group starts and finishes your journey) at 2.00pm or 2.30pm.

Q: How long is a train trip?

Most train trips are approximately an hour (if starting and finishing your visit with us at Ropley), train trips are slightly longer or shorter depending on where you start and finish your visit and also depending on which session you book and your visit requirements. Please contact us via education@watercressline.co.uk to discuss further.

Q: Where can we start and finish our visit?

You are welcome to start and finish your visit at one of our station sites (Alresford, Ropley, Medstead and Four Marks or Alton stations). It is recommended to start / finish your visit at Alresford or Ropley due to there being more space to park, collect and drop off groups. Your start and finish locations will also depend on your start and finish times which are linked to our trains up and down the line.

Q: Where do our minibuses / coaches park?

If you are starting your visit at Alresford and returning to Alresford at the end of your visit you can park there in our designated spaces.

If starting at Alresford and finishing at Ropley you can drop off at Alresford and then park at Ropley in our top car park.
We will email you a copy of the map and directions of how to reach our top car park at Ropley station. If starting and finishing at Ropley you are welcome to park outside our gates in the education groups parking spaces just outside our top car park area.

Q: What ratios do you cover for adults to children?

We recommend that there is 1 adult to every 10 children, for children from younger age groups, ratios will need to be slightly higher. The behavior of groups visiting the railway and its stations is the responsibility of the teachers in charge. A health and safety briefing will be given by the staff member who will meet and work with your group about how to visit the railway in a safe manner, however it is the ultimate responsibility of the teachers in charge to manage the group’s behaviour.

Q: What facilities are there for school and learning groups?

Ropley station is where schools stop for lunch break as part of their visit, there is ample space for groups to have their packed lunches using our outside spaces at Ropley station (using our orchard grassed areas) and hardstanding area which has a covered marquee. Groups can also use our learning space which is closed to other visitors whilst school workshops and visits take place.

Each station has toilet facilities; at Alresford these are found in the Museum Building at the end of the platform. Whilst at Ropley, toilets are located on both platforms. At Alton there are also toilet facilities. Please note there are no toilets on the trains and also very limited toilets at Medstead & Four Marks station.

Please see our Risk Assessment HERE and more info HERE.

For an evening visit:
For evening visits groups are asked to park in our top car park at Ropley as this is where the evening activities will take place. Please do not try to park in Ropley station yard car park as this is used by staff and volunteers and will be closed.

Q: How many children can you accommodate per visit?

We can accommodate up to 80 children per visit, this though is dependent on our train services as sometimes we run two trains (more frequent services) or a one train service (less frequent) depending on the time of year. With bigger groups (40 plus) we would split the group in two groups (whilst one does a train trip, the other group would do our workshop activity see HERE for our current learning programme). The groups would then swap over.

If you are visiting for a self-led visit we can accommodate up to 80, with the correct adult to child ratios with the ability to do a self-led visit to the railway and explore our station site at Ropley.

Q: How much does a visit cost?

Current charges for education visits are:

School visits and day visits for scouting and girl guiding groups

∙ £11 per pupil / student for a led visit
(train trip and workshop)

∙ £9 per pupil / student for a self-led visit
(train trip, no workshop, activity booklets provided for the group to use throughout their visit

∙ 1 FREE Adult for every 10 children

∙ Extra adults £16

Evening visits and station only visits (no train travel included)

∙ £85 per group, 35 children maximum

∙ Adults / leaders / teachers: FREE

Q: What sessions or experiences does the railway offer?

We offer a wide range of experiences and sessions linked to your curriculum needs, objectives and outcomes ranging from STEM, History, EYFS through to cross curricular links. Please click HERE for an up to date programme of what is available. We can also tailor visits and workshops to meet the needs, requirements and learning outcomes / objectives for your group’s requirements.

For community learning groups (scouting and girl guiding groups etc) please click HERE. As well as visiting the railway, we offer outreach sessions for schools as well as community groups.

Q: How do we book a visit with you?

Please email our Education and Outreach team via education@watercressline.co.uk, we will then discuss with you availability, itineraries especially tailored to suit your needs and requirements and learning outcomes and any other things we need to know about. (subject to our train running dates (which are March to October every year). Station only visits and outreach sessions are available throughout the year.

A booking form will be completed with a copy sent to you along with a copy of our risk assessment guidelines, timetable for your visit and map and directions of how to reach us (depending on where you start and finish your visit). These can also be downloaded HERE.

On the day of your visit, you will be met by a member of staff and education volunteers who will ask and record the actual number of children and adults who attend, after your visit has taken place an invoice will be sent to you.

Q: We haven’t visited as a school before / we haven’t visited as a school for a long time, can we do a pre visit?

Yes, we offer pre visits for teachers who haven’t visited with their class before or for a long time so that you can meet some of the staff who will be working with your class or group as well as seeing our stations, how the logistics of a typical visit works and so that you can see our facilities, spaces and locations used as part of your visit with us. Pre visits can be done during the week (where you are able to meet the education coordinator) or they can be done at a weekend (a pre visit voucher will be left for you to exchange for a visit ticket. This can only be issued at our Alresford station.

Q: We would like to visit on a self-led basis, can we visit by ourselves?

Yes, we do offer self led visits, see HERE for more detailed information. For self-led visits, a member of the education team will meet you at your starting station and then be available at Ropley station if the group leader has any questions or further queries. Self-guided visit resources are also available which can be arranged to be given to the group at the start of your visit or they can be downloaded HERE before your visit.

Our Quiz activity booklets are currently available to be booked as a visit resource and will be given to the group leader / main teacher at the point of arrival at your starting station.
Please see HERE for detailed guidance for self-led groups.