Sherlock Holmes, Brontë and Railway Children weekends could be organised on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

The themed events are among suggestions made by railway member David Smith to improve passenger figures.

He puts forward several marketing ideas in the latest issue of the K&WVR's magazine Push and Pull.

Mr Smith, a K&WVR life member, said marketing and publicity were all-important in the modern world.

He said passenger figures had gradually dropped from more than 150,000 in the late 1980s to an average of 110,000 in the past decade.

Mr Smith said preserved railways in established holiday areas had increased to around 200,000 people a year.

Others near urban areas, dependent on day trippers, recorded similar passenger figures to Keighley's line.

Mr Smith said: "This does not fully explain why the K&WVR's passenger figures have fallen more than most.

"Perhaps we have been unfortunate that so many other railways have opened within our immediate catchment area. We have a lot to look forward to, so let's make our presence known. We need to get passenger figures moving significantly upwards."

Mr Smith praised recent improvements to the K&WVR's publicity efforts, including an "extremely good" website.

But he said more could be done, such as featuring in the railway press and linking with other local attractions.

He suggested celebrating interesting events, such as the coming 40th anniversary of the Worth Valley line and the end of British Railways steam.

Mr Smith added: "We have to focus on the quality of the experience we provide.

"We do a good job here but there are some weaknesses."

He suggested improving catering facilities, particularly at Haworth station, and tidying up the Haworth yard. He said the K&WVR should capitalise on its links with the Railway Children, TV's Sherlock Holmes and the Brontë family.

He said: "The Brontës did travel by train and Branwell was a railway employee briefly."