Cotswold line details itsmid- August reopening plans
THEGloucestershireWarwickshireRailway hasannouncedfulldetailsofitsAugust 15restart.
Hauling the first return train will beWRModified Hall 4- 6- 0 No. 7903 ForemarkeHall, which worked over the Stratford- upon- Avon to Cheltenham route inBRdays.
The journey is limited to a single round trip inapre- booked seat or compartment, starting and finishing at Toddington station.
Each train will comprise six coaches, including five compartment coaches with a side corridor for parties of a minimum of twoand up to six people. One is an open coach available for individuals or couples at designated seats to ensure social distancing.
Passengers must wear suitable face masks at stations, when boarding and leaving trains and on board the open coach.
Hand sanitiser and hand- washing facilities areavailable at Toddington, Broadway andCheltenham Racecourse stations, and markings are inplace to ensureproper social distancing have been installed. Extra measures will be taken, with deep cleaning and use of disinfectant fog in all carriages at the endof each day.
Timetable
Thetimetableismodified toeithertwoor fourdailydeparturesfromToddington.
Faresare£ 25perheadforindividuals andcouples. Apartyofsixina compartmentcostsaminimumof£ 50for twopeople, plus£ 10perheaduptosix( a fullcompartmentcosting£ 90).
Vouchersanddiscountedticketsarenot forthetimebeingaccepted.
TheFlag& Whistle TeaRooms at Toddington station will be open, but the volunteer- run cafes atWinchcombe and Broadway and on- train buffet cars will not be available.
However, pre- packed snacks and drinks orapicnic lunch can be reserved when booking, and this will be given to travellers at their seats, while hot drinks will be available at Cheltenham Racecourse station.
The line’s commercial director Graham Radband said:“Designing a train service that enables us to comply with strict social- distancing and cleaning measures for the safetyof both visitors and the volunteers who operate the railway hasn’t been easy.
“Most passengers will be accommodated inold- fashioned compartment coacheswithin theirown ‘ social bubble’.
“This means thatwhen in their compartment, passengersmay takeoff their masks – this is the‘ new normal’.
“Individuals can also travel and they will be accommodatedatadesignated seat inanopen coach.
“However, inorder to meet Government guidelines, they will need to wearamask, except when eating or drinking. There isabreak of about 20 minutes at each end of the line, at Broadway and at Cheltenham.
First step
“Thisisaveryexcitingfirststeptowards resumingourtrainservices. Ithasbeena verydifficultyearwithnoincome, yetthe billsstillcontinuetocomein.
“Wehavealsohadtodealwithan embankmentlandslipnearGotherington, whichwasthesubjectofanappealthat raised£ 250,000injust10weekstohelpthe railwaymeetthe£ 500,000costofrepairing. Withoutthegenerosityofsomanypeople thefutureoftherailwaywasatstake.”
➜ Tickets arenowonsaleatwww. gwsr. comandareonlybookableonline uptomiddaybeforethedayoftravel ( subjecttoavailability). Therailway’s tickets offices areclosed. Ticketscanbe downloadedtoasmartdevicewhich canbeshownonarrival, orprinted athome.