First post-lockdown railway reopening dates are announced
PRESERVED railways the length and breadth of the country remain closed at the time of writing as they await further Government guidance on when – and how – they might reopen to the public.
Ordinarily railways would by now be gearing up for reopening at Easter after the winter closure period, although some would have operated during the February half-term.
Sadly this is no ordinary year and, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues, the majority of heritage lines are still ‘playing it by ear’ and have yet to announce when they might operate trains again.
However, a handful of lines have published their timetables online already, with some even making public announcements as to when services will resume for 2021, albeit subject to Government restrictions.
The Avon Valley Railway
plans to run trains most weekends (diesel-hauled on Saturdays and steam on Sundays) from April to September, with additional Wednesdays during school half terms and summer holidays. However, it has not said when in April it hopes to reopen.
The website of Cornwall’s Bodmin & Wenford Railway
states it hopes to start running “around Easter time”, while the East Somerset Railway has a date of March 13 currently pencilled in, with its annual Steam Gala scheduled for April 24 to 25.
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, meanwhile, has announced it is unable to run its previously planned Alice In Wonderland event over Easter. A statement from the railway said: “Should the
Covid-19 restrictions lift by Easter, we will look to run a simple service.”
Three lines planning to start 2021 operations with events are the East Lancashire, Isle of Wight and Mid-Hants railways.
At the time of writing, the
Isle of Wight Steam Railway has Mother’s Day Specials planned for March 14, with midweek operations starting on the 17th.
The East Lancs Railway is expecting a visit from the National Railway Museum’s ‘A3’ No. 60106 Flying Scotsman between April 2 and April 6, while another famous loco – ‘Thomas’ – is set to launch the
Mid-Hants Railway’s services during a Day Out With
Thomas event on April 2-11.
Also looking to reopen on April 2 are the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Llangollen Railway and the Severn
Valley Railway (see separate story), the former kicking off its 2021 season with a string of ‘Train Through the Easter Countryside’ live performance specials.
The only other standard gauge line to have a tentative reopening date as this issue of The RM went to press was the Middleton Railway, which was working towards running trains on April 4.
Of the other railways The RM spoke to, the general consensus was that they were awaiting further information from the Government before making any plans to reopen.
Those lines above that have announced dates in advance were keen to stress that all dates are subject to change in line with the easing of lockdown restrictions.
People wishing to book should always check the individual railway websites or social media pages for updates.