More trains than ever before are to run on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

The volunteer-run heritage line is expanding its year-round services to cope with rising demand.

The increase comes despite volunteers’ fears this year that the credit crunch would hit passenger levels.

The success is partly due to the railway’s efforts to develop its activities and offer visitors a full day out.

And many people have taken day trips on the railway rather than travel abroad for the weekend.

The projected passenger figures for 2009 are around 110,000 people, a 5 per cent rise on last year.

Figures for July and August midweek services were up by around 15 per cent, with special events also seeing increased visitors. Railway bosses have planned several new or expanded services for 2010.

They hope to capitalise on next year’s 40th anniversary of movie The Railway Children, which was filmed on the Worth Valley line.

They have also worked with tourism agency Visit Yorkshire to make it easier for people to explore the surrounding countryside and reach the top of Haworth village.

For the first time two trains instead of one will operate every Sunday throughout the year, including winter.

A new service of open top buses, combined with a free meal at a Haworth pub, will be extended in 2010 following successful trials this year.

Footplate Experience Days, allowing people to drive a steam train under supervision, will be re-introduced.

Existing services like cream teas, Sunday lunch, wine and dine, guided tours and vintage train days will be expanded. The summer steam gala will return to the autumn when it is easier to book visiting locomotives.

Traffic manager Sam MacDougall said: “Significant improvements to the timetable and what we offer the public are under way for 2010.

“Winter services will run later in the light of increasing demand in recent years. We will again be running a vintage bus to supplement our midweek steam train service in the summer, which will give scenic rides over the moors. This will allow visitors to make the most of the day and see all the different parts of the railway.”

Although some of the extra off-peak services will be worked by heritage diesel trains, most services will continue to be operated by steam locomotives.