‘Two-way traffic’ as West Somerset helps the community during lockdown

OUR heritage railways may be facing their greatest challenges since the birth of the preservation movement 70 years ago, but that has not stopped the West Somerset Railway (WSR) aiding the communities they serve during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Food from the WSR’s temporarily closed Turntable Cafe at Minehead, which would have otherwise gone to waste, has been donated to local food banks via the West Somerset Food Cupboard.

Rubber gloves

Furthermore, 800 pairs of protective rubber gloves from the railway’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies were delivered to Minehead Community Hospital to support the NHS during the crisis.

“I’m very pleased that we have also been able to give something back to the local community with our donations of food to the local Food Cupboard and some rubber gloves for the NHS,” said WSR plc chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt.

‘Solidarity’

“While we know it’s only something fairly small in the scheme of things at present, we felt we had to do something positive to show solidarity with the community, and every little helps at present.”

The railway was forced to suspend its operations from March 17, and like many others it launched an own urgent appeal for funds to help the 22-mile line get through the coronavirus crisis.

In just two weeks the WSR had received more than £33,500 in donations and share purchases, making it the most successful appeal for funds in the railway’s 44-year history.