SEVERN Valley Railway bosses are all steamed up after scooping two commendations - Railway of the Year and Worcestershire Family Attraction of the Year - in the same week.

The plaudits, which come in the Good Britain Guide 2002, published on Tuesday, follow a visit to Kidderminster by self-confessed steam buff and SVR patron the Duke of Gloucester.

The award places the heritage line - saved by enthusiasts more than 30 years ago and still largely operated by volunteers - in the company of such national attractions as Kew Gardens.

The 16-mile railway, which recently notched up its five millionth customer since re-opening in 1970, has also been voted Worcestershire Family Attraction of the Year by the popular tourism guide.

The attraction is described in the guide as "A lively railway ... run with great verve" and highlights the "beautiful countryside" through which it runs.

SVR marketing manager John Leach said: "It's a big boost for us, both in terms of morale and, hopefully, revenue, to see the railway recognised in this way."

The awards follow a royal visit last Thursday when the Duke officially opened a £3 million carriage shed in Kidderminster, built with the help of a £1.75 million grant from the Heritage Lottery fund.

The shed is a fifth of a mile long and can hold up to 60 railway carriages, protecting them from the weather.

After opening the building and meeting some of the volunteers the Duke drove the steam locomotive Union of South Africa back from Bewdley to Kidderminster.