The West Somerset Railway PLC (WSR PLC) has published a joint press release, outlining how the railway plans to survive the impact of COVID-19, and operate once reopened.
Posted on the WSR PLC ‘s website on Tuesday 9th of June 2020, the documents outline how the West Somerset Railway family will work together to recovery from COVID-19 and improve on the line’s weaknesses to “…resume its position as ‘the jewel in Somerset’s tourism crown’…”.
The West Somerset Railway family is made up of:
- Diesel Electric Preservation Group
- Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust
- West Somerset Railway Association
- West Somerset Railway PLC
- West Somerset Steam Railway Trust
- Friends of Stations groups
With the railway not likely to reopen in 2020, current plans take into account for the railway earning little to no revenues until Easter 2021.
To combat COVID-19 and other issues, West Somerset Railway (WSR) will follow these three main steps:
- Fundraising with the target of £500,000 or more to allow the railway to survive without any income this year in order to carry out essential maintenance and renewal works before it reopens to visitors.
- The re-establishment of ‘Partnership Development Group’, involving the West Somerset Railway family, together with the local authorities for whom the railway is so important as part of Somerset tourist economy.
- A new approach to the recruitment and retention of volunteers to help run the railway when it can reopen, involving the WSR’s two main support charities: the West Somerset Railway Association and the West Somerset Steam Railway Trust.
To read the full joint press release, please click here.
Over £170,000 has been raised to support the WSR through the COVID-19 forced closure, which the railway, it’s staff and volunteers are very grateful of. They still need to raise more to pay for fixed costs and preparing the line to reopen when appropriate.
For more information or to support the West Somerset Railway, please click here.
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Responses
Why isn’t West Somerset Railway opening like other institutions in the lifting of lockdown? Masks compulsory of course but there’s revenue going to waste especially in August surely?
Too busy carrying on with the endless infighting probably