EDINBURGH, Scotland, 2016-Nov-03 — /Travel PR News/ — Volunteers and staff at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway and Museum of Scottish Railways are celebrating after being awarded, for the first time, the national tourism organisation’s 4-Star grading in recognition of the outstanding visitor experience they offer.
VisitScotland’s 4-Star Quality Assurance rating is awarded to attractions which consistently achieve excellent standards across a wide range of aspects (such as presentation and cleanliness) and which excel in customer care and hospitality, ensuring visitors receive friendly service and the warmest of welcomes.
Located just a 40-minute drive from Glasgow and Edinburgh, the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway is a historic railway line which links the picturesque Victorian stations of Bo’ness, Birkhill and Manuel and the Kinneil Halt. It offers visitors the chance to board a vintage steam or diesel-hauled train – on which, at weekends, they can enjoy an on-board afternoon tea.
The Museum of Scottish Railways is Scotland’s largest railway museum. It comprises three large buildings filled with railway locomotives, carriages and wagons and visitors can operate a railway signal and points, climb aboard heritage rolling stock and learn all about the manufacture, operation and use of Scotland’s railways through the ages.
The 4-Star award will help the museum and railway line- both of which are operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society -to promote the wide range of fascinating activities and entertainment they offer visitors of all ages.The attractions and their caterers, Saltire Hospitality, also boast a Taste Our Best award which recognises their commitment to serving quality Scottish produce, prepared with care and delivered with passion.
Scottish Railway Preservation Society Chairman Vic Michel commented: “We are delighted to receive our 4-Star award from VisitScotland. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers who make such a difference to the visitor experience.”
Falkirk Council’s tourism spokesman, Councillor Adrian Mahoney, said: “The Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway and Museum of Scottish Railways are wonderful, unique tourism assets so it’s great that the excellence of their visitor offering has been recognised by this very well-deserved Quality Assurance accolade. The award is an excellent marketing tool so it is great news, not only for the railway and museum but also for the wider Falkirk area as it further enhances our ability to promote it as a destination which offers a diverse range of superb things to see and do.”
VisitScotland Regional Partnerships Director, Liz Buchanan MBE, added: “My congratulations go to everyone at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway and Museum of Scottish Railways for this fantastic achievement. Their award brings the total number of 4-Star rated attractions Bo’ness boasts to four, the others being the Bo’ness Motor Museum, Hippodrome Cinema and Kinneil Museum.
“Our Quality Assurance scheme, which has been developed and improved over 30 years, provides visitors with a trusted, independent, impartial guide to standards. Delivered by a dedicated team of experts who offer scheme members advice and support on how to not only meet visitor expectations but exceed them, the scheme is not just about driving standards – it’s about helping attractions and businesses reach their full potential and secure their success. That in turn delivers great results for tourism and the region’s economy.”
For more information on VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme, please visit www.visitscotland.org/quality_assurance.aspx
For further details on the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway and Museum of Scottish Railways, visit
ENDS
For further information contact:
Ellen Drummond Ferroni
VisitScotland Corporate Press Officer
T: 0141 566 4019; M: 07801 820757;
E: ellen.drummondferroni@visitscotland.com
Please note, I work Mon-Thurs.
Out of hours enquiries: 07699 766986
Notes to Editors
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2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design - 2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design started on 1 January 2016 and will end on 31 December 2016.It will build on the momentum generated by the 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
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SOURCE: VisitScotland