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Full steam ahead as public support proving vital lifeline for the survival of many heritage railways in the UK

They are the appeals that have caught the imagination of thousands of people and raised millions of pounds up and down the UK.

The passion and enthusiasm needed to save many of the heritage railways today is similar to that applied to save them from closure many years ago. Now, those forces are being called back into action again.

That’s because all the months of planning, maintenance and restoration over the winter period ahead of this year’s season was abruptly halted in the third weekend of March when the coronavirus pandemic led to lockdown.

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Since then an industry which attracts 13 million visitors annually now stands silent, with no revenue coming in, but costs continuing to add up.

Steve Oates is Chief Executive Officer at the Heritage Railway Association (HRA). He spoke to railbusinessdaily.com about the sector’s struggles and its overwhelming support.

“Heritage railways really do hold a special place in peoples’ affection and that has been well-proven in the last few months,” he said.

“There is something majestic about that steam image: the sight and the sound and the smell. It’s great that so many members of the public have been prepared to put their hands in their pocket and make a donation.

“Nothing has moved since the third weekend in March. But the fixed high base costs – the rent, rates, utilities and insurances – remain.

“The appeal funding is in many cases lifesaving and helping heritage railways get from one day to the next. It has been vitally important.”

The initial action taken by heritage railways

The HRA is a largely volunteer-run trade association representing heritage and tourist railways, related museums, tramways, cliff lifts and railway preservation groups.

More than 180 of its member organisations would normally be regularly open to the public, with 156 of those operating with passengers.

During the pandemic, the organisation has been providing advice to members and monitoring government announcements, as it works to help the industry survive during these challenging times.

Steve said: “In the first few weeks, for every business, it was a question of what’s going on? What’s going to happen? But that was particularly true for heritage railways, which are finely balanced businesses.

“They’re expensive to run, but there is great passion and love to run them. There’s a huge volunteer element to them, but some of the larger ones have well over 100 members of staff.

“The last two weeks of March were extremely challenging. General Managers were having to tell staff they were being furloughed, but without being able to tell them for how long or what was going to happen in the future. They were awful times.

“In April and May it was a matter of having made all the possible changes, and looking at what funding was available – from grants to appeals. I don’t think there will be an avenue that hasn’t been explored in terms of funding.”

Photo: COVID-19 brings the UK’s heritage railways to a standstill (GWR 7800 Class 7827 Lydham Manor)

Getting things back on track

Heritage railways fall into the third category of the Government’s three step coronavirus recovery strategy which could see the first possible re-opening of July 4th.

It’s a date being worked towards by many heritage railway operators, who are working together to develop ways to open safely, not just for the passengers, but also the staff.

It is highly likely there will be reduced services, which will only take place if social distancing can be adhered to, and if running them is profitable.

Steve said: “Work is underway on ways to operate services safely, and has been for quite a while. Some six weeks ago we put together a 12-point checklist to aid railways in resuming operations.

“Tourism is a very integrated sector, so we stressed the importance of speaking to fellow visitor attractions to see what they are doing.

“From an operational point of view, things like social distancing on a locomotive footplate aren’t that easy. What are the ways to cope with that? Nor is social distancing in an open 1940s or 50s railway carriage. How can that be managed?

“The planning and problem-solving is ongoing. We’re working with an expert team, putting together generic composite guidance on every aspect of resuming operations.

“A lot of the railways want to re-open. We are all thinking carefully about how that can be done in ways that help the public feel confident and safe, as well as keeping our own staff and volunteers safe, so we can all get steaming again.

“On those issues like social distancing on a footplate – that can’t just be done as before, so you have to risk-assess it. Are you confirmed to be fit and healthy? Are you happy to work with another person who feels the same?

“Visitor flows have to be thought about in new ways. What may have been seen as awkward or constraining in the past should now be looked at as options. One-way flows, extra foot crossings on platforms and cleaning routines are among the things that are now being assessed.”

Photo: The steam-hauled Torbay Express – fit to run on the national rail network after COVID-19?

The future

There are some real concerns about the future of many heritage railways in the UK, and how long they can survive if things don’t pick up in the coming months.

Operations are unlikely to get back to full capacity any time soon. The furlough scheme ends in October. Many railways will head into winter, when the season finishes, with big losses.

Steve said: “It’s difficult to answer questions about the long term. Some railways have had to pretty much shut down almost completely. They will be considering very carefully whether it’s worth opening soon. They could struggle even more when the furlough scheme ends in October.

“When the scheme ends we will just be approaching a low time with operations stopping for winter. It’s hard to know if any heritage railway will go under, or if there will be a handful, or none.

“But the railways and everyone involved in them are a tough lot. They are all made up of an enthusiastic base. Those people don’t want their favourite railways to suffer, and they’re willing to give up time and money to help – that enthusiasm has and will continue to make a huge difference.

“Heritage railways are resilient. They came about as a result of closures and shut-downs. People came together, working out how to do things, and turn those railways into viable businesses.

“There is a desire for them to exist. That’s why people work on them, are members of boards and trusts, and thousands more volunteer to turn out and maintain and run them.

“If the enthusiasm and support continues and people stick at, it we will be back.”

Visit www.hra.uk.com for more details.

Photo: The Flying Scotsman – symbol of a nation’s passion and admiration for heritage railways.

Photo credit: Heritage Railway Association

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