There will be no rail price hikes on the Shipley Glen Tramway this year which has just enjoyed a bumper 2012 carrying 80 per cent more passengers.

Traveller numbers jumped from 9,012 in 2011 to 16,187 during the last year, including the 1,053 cheerful children who rode the December Santa Specials.

“It’s a great reward for all those who supported us through the time of the renovation and replacement,” said the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Dale Smith, one of the tramway’s trustees.

“And we’ve no intention to put up the prices in 2013.

“It’s all for the pleasure of having people flock there on Sundays, rather than trying to squeeze every last penny out of it. That’s part of the ambience of the tramway – it’s a friendly, family affair from a different time.

“And the refurbished museum can teach youngsters about those sort of pleasures from the old days before the likes of computer games.”

As well as encouraging more visitors in 2012 he said the tramway had increased the number of personnel certificated as motormen so it can run every Sunday and also have the potential to open at Bank Holidays or for school visits.

But Mr Smith said engineers, shop staff, “seaters and greeters”, museum curators and dispatchers – as well as more motormen – were still needed.

He said anyone interested should visit the tramway, take a ride and chat with volunteers.

And the Lord Mayor himself is keen to get back working on Bradford’s best-loved form of rail travel.

“I’m really looking forward to resuming my motorman duties when my civic office ends as I truly miss the friendly banter with passengers as they recapture their youth and reminisce about the good old days,” Coun Smith said.