The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, which operates steam and diesel trains between Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse, kicks off its 2008 season on 1st March with an offer most youngsters would find hard to refuse - they can travel free!

But there's a catch! To get a free ticket, they must bring a fare-paying adult or senior citizen!  The offer is valid on every train running during March, including Easter. Says the GWR's commercial director, Ian Crowder: "We did this last year and we noticed a lot of grandparents taking a trip down memory lane while giving their grandchildren a taste of what train travel was like when they were young."

The Stratford to Cheltenham railway - often called 'The Honeybourne Line' because it had a junction with the Worcester-Oxford line at Honeybourne - opened in 1906, but it was not until 1908, 100 years ago this year, that fast expresses from Birmingham started using the route to and from the West Country. Hauling those early trains were engines like 'City of Truro' - an Edwardian Great Western Railway locomotive that is now 105 years old.  This elegant machine is resident on the present-day GWR and it will be working some services during March.

 "'City of Truro' is owned by the National Railway Museum and it survived because way back in 1904, it became the first engine in the world to reach a recorded 100mph," explains Ian Crowder. "Engines like it would have been familiar to people living along the Honeybourne Line until the 1920s when larger designs took over.

"We're very fortunate that we can in a small way, relive those glory days when the train was only way to travel," Ian Crowder adds.  There's more information on www.gwsr.com or call 01242 621 405.

Fares are £10.00 adult, £8.50 senior citizen and children £6.00 - but throughout March, for every adult of senior citizen ticket sold, one child age 5-15 travels free. Tickets allow unlimited travel on the day of issue.  March operating dates: Every Saturday and Sunday from 1st March, the Easter weekend and 26th and 27th March.

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Media information: Ian Crowder, 07775 566 555 or ian.crowder@gwsr.com