Irish News Track Record Downpatrick line launches appeal as doors stay shut for rest of 2020
THE Downpatrick & County Down Railway (DCDR) has launched an urgent appeal for donations after accepting the likelihood it will not be able to run any trains this year.
The Back on Track Appeal will help negate the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on DCDR operations and restoration work since lockdown began.
The railway says it has just under £40,000 of bills to pay this year just to keep the business in mothballs, and until the beginning of July was paying these through its savings.
However, the money had been earmarked for long-awaited essential maintenance and repair work to safeguard the long-term future of the railway.
The railway is one of the last UK heritage lines to launch any sort of reliance appeal, having avoided doing so as long as possible.
In an open letter to DCDR members, chairman Robert Gardiner said: “We have watched as heritage railways across the UK and Ireland launched fundraising campaigns, but at a time when people were worried about basics such as paying their bills, buying groceries and had worries about their jobs and the health of their families, we felt it just wasn’t right to ask for money for a preserved railway, so we tried many other avenues of funding.”
Almost every potential source of grant funding has been looked at or applied for since the Northern Ireland Executive first announced its support packages for businesses and charities.
Unsuccessful
Unfortunately, these applications have been unsuccessful, either because the DCDR did not qualify for funding under both the £10,000 or £25,000 business support schemes, or because it’s rateable value was £1,800, more than the £51,000 threshold.
Neither was it eligible for the Micro Business Hardship Fund, the Sports and Clubs or Voluntary and Community Sector Hardship funds.
“In short, we have been rejected for support every time because we were too small, too large, or missing a financial threshold by only a few pounds sometimes,” explained Mr Gardiner.
“We are fortunate to have no debt, and only one paid part-time employee, currently furloughed, as we have striven to live within our financial means.
“Yet even with no trains running, essential maintenance work is needed on our locomotives, carriages, track, bridges, platforms and buildings, some of which is urgent, to stop them falling into disrepair so we are ready to reopen.
“Six months of disuse have not helped, and we would need to raise at least £20,000 this year just to offset some of the lost income and start to address the most urgent issues starting to build up.”
The Northern Ireland Executive has announced a relaxation of the lockdown, but the DCDR has confirmed it will not reopen until the management is happy the railway can operate safely, both for the public and its volunteers.
For details on how to donate to the DCDR appeal, visit: www.downrail.co.uk/appeal/