Rare railbus returns as part of history festival

The railbus is currently being restored and is thought to be one of the only working models in the country

A rare railbus has returned to a disused platform it used to serve, 61 years after the station closed.

Railbus W79978 was one of four models built in 1958 as a British Rail experiment to serve Cirencester, working until the station was shut in 1964.

It is thought to be one of the only ones in the country still in working order.

The vehicle was put on display as part of the Cirencester History Festival, which began on Friday.

The railbus is being restored at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, and was temporarily relocated to sit on specially-laid track at Cirencester, which opened as a station in 1842.

Martin Rouse, who took on the restoration project in 2019, said: "It's nowhere near complete but it's a chance to have it back where it was in 1964."

A self-confessed rail enthusiast, Mr Rouse began learning his trade at the Railway Works in Swindon on an apprenticeship.

He told the BBC they found the railbus shortly before it would have become derelict.

"If we left it where it was for a couple more years it would have been beyond saving, we can't have that, it's unique."

The station in Cirencester was built in 1842

Festival producer Jess Yarrow said the event would "shake things up" and appeal to a wider audience.

Ms Yarrow said: "There is a bit of an issue in Cirencester, a lot of things happen for a certain demographic and some of the younger people don't feel there's so much for them.

"It felt important to make it obvious they are welcome."