Dartmouth Steam Railway - (Paignton, Station) — Attraction in Great Britain

I am really confused by the recent reviews regarding covid. Maybe we just got unlucky? I am a local, have been on this ride before and I've always had a great experience (including this time, the actual ride is wonderful and employees are all great!). If you are vulnerable, elderly, a carer or at risk, I would not advise using this service as the covid precautions are not working.

Although there is the odd sign saying which side of the platform to walk on, people were walking on both sides. On the return journey 1/5 were walking on the right, 4/5 were on the left. It was actually the 1/5 on the right side who were correct (according to the few signs I observed). The signing is not working so everyone getting on and off were brushing past each other. No employee was guiding anyone so it was not possible to socially distance with people getting on and off using both sides of the platform.

You are allocated seating when you purchase the tickets. We found our 3 seats but people were already sat there. They didn't realise it was designated seating. They moved but it wasn't great that others had just sat there.

On the return journey we had people in our seats again. Clearly something isn't working? We did not feel comfortable this time asking them to move so we moved a row behind which then caused a ripple effect. A simple solution would be, during the boarding time, a repeating recorded message every minute or so inside the carriages, asking people to make sure they are sat in their allocated seating... or maybe just remove allocated seating altogether?

The queue to the ferry doesn't have any socially distance markings on the ground, so the majority of the queue had people queuing on top of each other. Distance markings would help as most people are either forgetting covid, or simply no longer care. Just before we disembarked from the train, the tannoy said to remember to socially distance. The problem is virtually no-one on our trip bothered.

With such large queues there should really be distance markings on the floor. A much better solution would be to also have an employee monitoring the queue and asking people to keep their distance from each other. Those two things together should completely eliminate the issue of queuing for the ferry and I would have certainly felt in much safer hands.

This is my first ever somewhat negative review. I am a carer so I need to be careful. It was not possible to safely socially distance on this trip. Because I need to be careful I would not risk this trip again. I was really looking forward to the train of lights this winter but unless things change between now and then, I won't be able to go on it as planned. Maybe next year.

This is not a rant, I'm not angry, I'm not upset, I haven't asked for a refund and nor will I ask for one as the journey is still lovely. I just worry that people will assume the experience will be safe but I did not feel the experience was as safe as it could have been.

If you've already booked a ticket with the ferry and you're now worried, I would suggest you make sure you are the very last person off the train so you can control the...

Had an excellent day out with the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company while on holiday in Torquay. We did the Steam and Cruise trip, which included a nostalgic half-hour journey by steam train from Paignton to Kingswear, a short ferry crossing to Dartmouth, and a scenic cruise along the River Dart which lasted about an hour. An adult ticket costs £35, it's £24 for a child, and you can buy a family ticket for £110. I came with a coach party, and we were given our own carriage and our own seat numbers. From the ticket office, you walk across a level crossing, and the entrance to the heritage railway station is on your right. There's a gift shop, toilets, and a little café where you can get drinks, cakes and ice-cream. The 11.30 train departure was right on time, the carriage was clean and comfortable, the ticket collector was very helpful, and we enjoyed lovely coastal and woodland scenery all the way to Kingswear. No commentary or refreshments, but there were toilets on board. We walked straight off the train on to the passenger ferry. Our cruise boat was moored right next to the ferry landing in Dartmouth, and embarkation could not have been easier. The skipper, Mark, and his crew were both knowledgeable and friendly. We could get drinks and snacks in the downstairs cabin, and there were also toilets on the boat. Plenty of seating (and the best views!) on the outside upper deck, and it was dog friendly too. We enjoyed a lovely sail up the River Dart as far as Greenway - the former home of Agatha Christie - and the village of Dittisham, before heading back towards the estuary and Dartmouth Castle, passing the Royal Naval College and Bayard's Cove on the way. Spotted herons and other waterbirds. Lively and informative commentary from Jo, who made sure we didn't miss any of the landmarks. This was a great experience from start to finish. Would...

My wife Sue and I have travelled on this many times, and the thrill of getting on a steam train brings back the good old days of steam. The journey from Paignton to Kingswear through the beautiful countryside is lovely, and from time to time to get the whiff of smoke from the engine passing by your carriage window wonderful. The short ferry from Kingswear to Dartmouth is pleasant, and the crew are very welcoming and helpful. We only had an hour in Dartmouth, because you have to book your return journey when you book your outward one. Just enough time to grab a bag of chips, find a bench to sit and eat them before going back to the jetty to get the ferry back. So I would suggest that if possible you miss a train, and make sure that you are back at Kingswear 30 minutes before the train arrives. Please check with the crew of the ferry, what time it leaves to go back and if it gives you the 30 minutes needed? You can always get on the Dartmouth Lower Ferry, it's a car and passenger ferry that you will see next door to Kingswear and is well worth thinking about? It runs more often than the Dartmouth Ferry, and it will an experience you will never forget. The price is £2 single or £4 return, and you will find it located to your left along the Quay just look for it and walk towards it's location. Just by where you have to board, is a fish and chip shop plus a fudge shop, and that's where we go as Dartmouth can be a bit pricey for food and drink? The cafe at Kingswear Station also has a cafe, and if you do have 30 minutes to wait well worth a tea or coffee with a slice of cake oh yes before your return trip back to Paignton unless of course you're doing The Round Robin and some of this might be helpful? I hope this review of my trip is of help, and please stay safe and take...