RIDING a historic seafront railway will cost passengers up to 29 per cent more following its seven-figure restoration.

Ticket prices to ride the Volk’s Railway will increase when it opens this spring following the construction of a new visitor centre.

It will also cost doting couples an extra £60 in 2017/18 to use The Bandstand as their wedding venue with hire costs to increase by ten per cent after councillors agreed to new charges for 2017/18.

Work is underway through the winter on the £1.65 million Heritage Lottery Fund project to build a new visitor centre, conservation workshop and restore carriages.

Council officers said the increase in prices reflected the improved facilities at the world’s oldest operating electrical railway.

An adult single on the railway will increase by 28 per cent to £3.70 while an adult return increasing by £1 to £4.80 with a family return rising to £12.50.

Members of the Volk’s Electrical Railway Association will have to dig deeper than anyone as their ticket prices will rise by 67 per cent to £1.

TV companies will be charged £420 a day to film in the city though councillors suggested the authority could raise more income through filming permits and outdoor events.

Labour councillor Adrian Morris questioned whether the council ever rejected requests for filming on the grounds that any show might be detrimental to the image of the city.

He said residents had raised concerns that recent shows filmed in the city did not portray the city in “a particularly faithful light”.