Nosummerservicefor 'devastatedB' odmin Wenford- autumnreopeningtargetset
THEBodmin& WenfordRailway (B&WRw) ill not bejoining the heritagelinesthat have announcedsummerreopening plans,and insteadhasmadethe difficultdecisionto not operate trainsat all this summer.
TheB&WRhasexploredvarious serviceoptionsandfinancial modelsf,actoringin social distancingandCovid-19hygiene requirementsb,ut all resultedin servicesrunningat a loss.
Neithercouldthe railway guaranteeit would haveenough volunteersto run it sevendays a week,andtherewasalsothe audiencefactorandthe question of whetherCornwalwl ill befully opento visitorsthis summer.
A railwaystatementsaid:"An enormousamountof hardwork hasbeenput in byourteamin preparationh, oweverthe well-beingof ourvisitorss, taff andvolunteersisourtop priority. "Wearedevastatedto find ourselvesin this position,but simplycannotaffordto runour trainsat the reducedpassenger capacitiesneededunderthe currentguidelines:' B&WRspokesmanJimmy Jameswent further,saying:"lfthe situationchangeswe will consider openingfor autumnhalf-term and/orChristmas:'
Despitethe decisionnot to run trains,the firstvolunteerswere allowedbackontothe railway on June4.Thismainlycomprised membersof the trackgang,who carriedout fishplateoilingon the Boscarnebranch,while another groupcut backvegetationon the Parkwaybranch.
Theworkshopswereexpected to reopenin mid-June.