PUBLIC STEAMS IN TO
Heritage train industry rescued from ‘life or death’ impact of the lockdown
BRITAIN’S steam railways are among the country’s most treasured tourist attractions but coronavirus left many in danger of hitting the buffers. However, a groundswell of public support has seen nearly £10million raised through public appeals to help cover income lost in the crisis, and now it’s full steam ahead as they return to the tracks.
The cash, raised over the past few months, has meant the difference “between life and death” for popular heritage lines, say operators who have been left chuffed with the amount of support.
The railways have only just been allowed to reopen with social distancing measures in place, some relaunching this weekend.
The biggest total, more than £750,000, has been raised by the Severn Valley Railway, which runs between Bridgnorth, Shropshire, and Kidderminster,worcs.
Meanwhile, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway has raised £400,000.
Helen Smith, general manager at Severn Valley, said: “We’ve raised three times more than expected and are incredibly grateful to everybody who has supported the appeal because without it we wouldn’t have survived. We’ve lost millions because of the pandemic.
“Heritage railways do mean a lot to people, they hold fond memories of times gone by and people love to visit to escape the hurly-burly of modern life.”
Severn Valley will reopen using compartmented carriages to ensure families are socially distanced while travelling on the 16-mile line.
At the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, famously used as a location for TV series Heartbeat and films including Harry Potter and Dad’s Army, general manager Chris Price said: “I would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far, whether you have given a donation or bought a ticket to travel along the line. We still have a challenge in front of us, however we will still continue to push forward.”
At the height of the coronavirus crisis, the railway, which normally attracts 300,000 visitors a year, said its future was “at risk” and made an urgent appeal for public support.
Mr Price said: “I’m not going to say our railway is out of the challenge and I think there are still heritage railways on the edge of survival.
“The biggest threat is to jobs and not just on the railway. There are 4,000 staff employed across the UK’S heritage railways but railways are worth three times their value in terms of the surrounding economy – bed and breakfasts, tea rooms, pubs.
“If a railway folds, you are looking at the loss of three times the turnover of the railway itself.”
Mr Price believes the main effect of coronavirus will be felt next year, because the furlough scheme is protecting heritage rail firms at present. He added: “Our railway will now have the wherewithal to survive through 2021 but there are some for whom it’s going to be a challenge.”
Other lines have also raised hundreds of thousands of pounds from loyal supporters.
While closed during what normally would be their busiest period, heritage railways have still faced bills for the upkeep of track, engines and coaches, building maintenance, utility bills and insurance.
The wages of paid staff, who are essential to operate many of the larger lines, are currently covered by the Government’s furlough scheme.
In June, the Swanage Railway, which runs along 10 miles of track between Swanage and Wareham, Dorset, warned its future was “on a knife edge”.
It relaunched services in mid-july and has raised nearly £250,000 of public donations towards a £360,000 target.
Company secretary Peter Milford said: “The public support has been absolutely fantastic. It just shows how much the British public honour and respect the work that’s being done at our railway and others across the country.” Although the railway had a “very successful” 2019, attracting 220,000 passengers, it has large overheads including refurbishment of steam engines, each of which has to be cleaned and rebuilt once a decade at a cost of “half to three quarters of a million pounds”, Mr Milford said.
He added: “It took 40 years to rebuild the railway and if we can’t continue through to next year it would be a tragedy.”
At West Somerset Railway, Britain’s longest steam railway covering 22 miles between Minehead and Taunton, £200,000 has been raised in public donations.
The railway is unlikely to reopen this year but is organising a series of events and exhibitions at its stations.
Chairman Jon Jones-pratt said: “We want to put on record our thanks to people for their support.
“Without the furlough scheme, on which we have been able to place our 44 staff, and the public donations, we would not have survived.”
Mr Jones-pratt said the railway is a “jewel in the crown” for local tourism and its 150,000 annual visitors are believed to benefit the wider local economy in the region of £6-7million.
The biggest worry over the future of the railway was getting through the winter months when maintenance costs are high and the only income comes from Christmas specials, he added.
The railway’s full-time staff are being asked to take three months without pay to help reduce costs after the furlough scheme ends in October.
He said heritage rail operators, many run by enthusiasts, are going to have to focus on making a profit to continue. “There is going to have to be a shift-change,” he said.
At the East Lancashire Railway – backed by its president, celebrity rail enthusiast and songwriter Pete Waterman, who released a video calling for the public to support its fundraising campaign – £140,000 has been
£200,000 target.
Tracey Parkinson, general manager, said: “People have really supported us because we are a community and we appreciate that help. The public has helped us and the furlough scheme has helped us, for which we are extremely grateful.”
The railway has not only lost funding from not being able to run trains. It also runs two pubs, both of which had to close but have now reopened.
The squeeze on finances has been felt by heritage railways in Wales, too, with the Llangollen Railway and famous narrow gauge lines including the Talyllyn Railway launching appeals to raise six-figure sums.
Stuart Williams, of Talyllyn Railway, Britain’s oldest preserved line dating back to 1951, said: “We’ve raised £105,000 in public donations, which means we can operate a limited service for the summer on a cost-neutral basis, although we still won’t be able to build up reserves for the winter.
“There is a lot of support out there for the railways.”
According to industry body the Heritage Railway Association, which represents more than 150 lines around Britain, its members attract 13 million visits annually and are estimated to be worth £400million to the UK visitor economy.
It said almost £4million has been donated by the public to the 28 largest steam railways but the overall total of public donations to all preserved lines since the coronavirus is believed to total £10million.
Chief executive Steve Oates said: “These donations have been the difference between life and death. The cash people have been prepared to put in, it’s been phenomenal.”
Mr Oates said the financial situation faced by the sector, unable to operate during the crisis and now restricted by social distancing meaning they cannot carry as many passengers as normal, has been “dire”.
But he added: “There’s an absolute determination everyone gets through this.”
Steam railways have also received support via grants from organisations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund.
It has handed out £500,000 to 11 steam railways including Nene Valley Railway, Cambridgeshire (£47,000); Isle of Wight Steam Railway (£39,300); Strathspey Railway, Scottish Highlands (£45,500); and Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, West Yorkshire (£50,000). raised towards a