Kentish Express Ashford & District
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New safety measures after lockdown closures
The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway is finally ‘back on track’ as it announces its reopening date.
The tourist attraction has been closed on and off since last March when the country was plunged into the first Covid-19 lockdown.
But it is now planning to reopen on Monday, April 12, in line with government guidelines.
Staff say they will continue with an “enhanced range of health and safety measures” to protect passengers and teams.
These measures include perspex screens between each carriage compartment, one-way systems around catering outlets and gift shops, social distancing markers and more.
The steam locomotives chosen for the opening weekend are locomotive number 2, Northern Chief, locomotive number 3, Southern Maid, locomotive number 6, Samson and locomotive number 9, Winston Churchill.
New timetables will also be introduced, and ‘trial’ journeys will take place this month and
next to familiarise the drivers with this.
Customers will have to prebook all journeys.
A spokesman for the light railway said: “We’d like to thank all of our fans who have shown so much support over the past 12 months.
“Whether you’ve brought a ‘supporters’ item, helped us to fundraise or simply provided motivation and a positive message for us online, we’re hugely thankful.
“We’d also like to thank the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England for awarding us funds from the Culture Recovery Fund which has allowed us to continue with several projects such as station and track maintenance during our temporary closure period.
“Thank you to the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway Association and its members for the continued support of the railway.
“In particular, we’d like to thank them for the financial contribution from the Winter Works Fund which has helped us to maintain our track and retain the unique skills of our staff over the winter months.”
The RHDR, which opened in 1927, runs along 13.5 miles of track from Hythe to Dungeness and has five stations in-between.
The one-third full size steam and diesel locomotives attracts visitors from all over the world, earning the attraction a 4.5/5 rating on Tripadvisor.
Earlier this year, staff at the railway urged people to keep off the tracks following a rise in the number of trespassers.
■ Visit www.rhdr.org.uk for more information.
An artist whose father was treated at Ashford’s William Harvey hospital before he died is raising money by auctioning a portrait of Captain Sir Tom Moore.
Angelo Pizzigallo will donate the money from the sale to East Kent Hospitals Charity to say thank you to the staff who cared for his father Francesco, in 2018.
The online auction ended last Thursday raising a total of £57.
The picture is a pencil and crayon image of the much-loved Second World War veteran who raised millions for NHS charities.
All the money from the sale will benefit Kings D ward at the William Harvey Hospital in Kennington Road, where Mr Pizzigallo Sr was treated.
Angelo’s sister Fabiola said:
“My father was cared for wonderfully by the team at the William Harvey and my brother and I were inspired to raise money by auctioning the picture.
“It is only a small gesture but we hope it will help and if it is successful we will consider holding further auctions.”
Angelo, from Deal, regularly exhibits at the Horsebridge Arts Centre in Whitstable and in Sandwich for the town’s Arts Week and specialises in colourful portraits interpreting light and form.
He is also an art tutor and holds demonstrations and workshops for art societies and colleges.
Sir Tom won the nation’s heart last April when he raised £32.79 million by walking 100 lengths of his garden for NHS Charities Together.
He embarked on the challenge last year during the first coronavirus lockdown. It took place over 24 days up to his 100th birthday on April 30.
Sir Tom died on February 2 this year after suffering both Covid-19 and pneumonia and his funeral, with military honours, was on February 27.
Last week, Dover District Council agreed to take steps to name a subway entrance, at Bench Street, Dover, after the war hero. It followed a suggestion by town councillor Graham Wanstall.