The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway will host a themed ‘Asparagus Express‘ on Saturday, 18th April, celebrating the Vale of Evesham’s protected-status asparagus season.

The steam-hauled service departs Broadway Station at 12:50 pm and returns from Cheltenham Racecourse at 2:10 pm, carrying fresh produce alongside passengers for the special journey.

Organised by the British Asparagus Festival Community Interest Company, in partnership with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, and supported by Worcestershire’s Vale & Spa, the event highlights the region’s long association with high-quality asparagus production. 

The trip reflects the railway’s historic role in agricultural distribution across the Vale, when stations such as Toddington handled produce including asparagus, soft fruit, Pershore plums, apples, cherries and pears, packed and loaded into dedicated railway vans for rapid transport to market.

While rail freight for local produce ended in the early 1960s as road haulage took over, imports, including asparagus from Peru, contributed to a decline in domestic supply.

More recently, however, Vale asparagus has seen renewed demand as consumers seek locally grown produce with strong provenance and flavour.

Entertainment onboard will include Gus the Asparagus Man and Asparagus Evie, while Nigel Smith, landlord of the National Trust-owned Fleece Inn at Bretforton, will sell fresh asparagus from local growers.

Asparagus-themed dishes will also be available in onboard catering and at The Cotswold Halt Café at Toddington Station.

 “On St George’s Day, the official start of the British Asparagus Festival, the first ‘hundred round of gras’ is auctioned in aid of charity and taken on a different promotional trip each year. A few years ago, this included a journey on the GWSR’s steam trains, which was so popular that we have decided to make this an annual special celebration.

“Steam trains and asparagus are equally popular. This a great way to celebrate both and to promote this very special crop and encourage people to make sure they buy British.”

Nigel Smith, GWSR.