The Swanage Railway Trust
The Trust's principal objectives are:1) To preserve and restore for the public benefit items of historical, architectural, engineering or scientific value in connection with railways; and2) To advance the education of the public in the history and development of railway transportation.
Activities & Mission
The Trust's principal objectives are:1) To preserve and restore for the public benefit items of historical, architectural, engineering or scientific value in connection with railways; and2) To advance the education of the public in the history and development of railway transportation.
Areas of Operation
Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.
Local Authority
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 5% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 344). How is this calculated?
Higher than 3% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 79% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
Financial Trend
Annual Returns
As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | £4,077,860 | £3,317,281 | £311,410 | £7,427,291 | £1,277,222 | 32 / 450 |
| 2024 | £3,869,038 | £3,566,219 | £296,351 | £6,653,439 | £166,468 | 37 / 450 |
| 2023 | £3,410,644 | £3,635,181 | £222,516 | £6,396,243 | £244,795 | 39 / 450 |
| 2022 | £3,377,762 | £2,728,992 | £176,769 | £6,513,748 | £164,351 | 37 / 450 |
| 2021 | £2,108,165 | £3,313,389 | £197,383 | £6,006,335 | £295,499 | 36 / 450 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The Swanage Railway Trust
What does The Swanage Railway Trust do?
The Trust's principal objectives are:1) To preserve and restore for the public benefit items of historical, architectural, engineering or scientific value in connection with railways; and2) To advance the education of the public in the history and development of railway transportation.
How much income did The Swanage Railway Trust report in 2025?
The Swanage Railway Trust reported total income of £4.08m and reported expenditure of £3.32m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The Swanage Railway Trust?
The Swanage Railway Trust has a program ratio of 7.6%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 5% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 344 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The Swanage Railway Trust registered as a charity?
The Swanage Railway Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 3 July 2001 as charity number 1087318. It has been registered for 25 years.
Who runs The Swanage Railway Trust?
The Swanage Railway Trust is governed by a board of 11 trustees. The chair of trustees is Frank Roberts. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The Swanage Railway Trust operate?
The Swanage Railway Trust operates in Dorset, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.
Is The Swanage Railway Trust a registered charity?
Yes — The Swanage Railway Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1087318.
Details
Station House
Railway Station Approach
SWANAGE
BH19 1HB
Registry Information
Is this your charity?
Add your logo, photos and tell the story behind the numbers in your own words. Free for our first 50 launch partners.
Claim this listing Learn more about premium profilesOther notable Heritage charities
Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Sectors & Classifications
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated