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Recommissioning after Coronavirus

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by johnofwessex, Mar 24, 2020.

  1. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

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    It's an interesting opinion when you compare it to Chris Price's statement from the NYMR, basically saying ''we are here and ready to run trains for you once given the go ahead''
    I'm assuming the premier railways are working hard behind the scenes on how they plan to run trains in the future under social distancing.
     
  2. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Indeed, and like I said, I was hoping for something more optimistic, at least in terms of non-operational stuff, and I was quite surprised by such early cancellation of the santa services, especially as they're probably the easiest to control in terms of pre-booking etc.
    I'd certainly be interested to read Chris's statement, I had a quick look and couldn't find it. I would note however that the GWSR was one of the very first to announce it was closing before the full lockdown measures were introduced whilst NYMR were determined to hold out, ultimately ending up accepting that they wouldn't open either anyway.
     
  3. lostlogin

    lostlogin Member

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    What else is he going to say? We won't be able to run trains once we are allowed to. Somehow I think not.
     
  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I wonder if you are seeing a difference in perspective between lines that have a considerable number of paid staff and those that don't?

    Tom
     
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  5. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I'm sure that's at least part of it, but with the furloughing scheme being extended to the end of October that oughtn't be an immediate concern any more.
     
  6. Andy Williams

    Andy Williams Member

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    If anything, I would expect that the lines having a considerable number of paid staff will be trying to maximise use of the furlough scheme. It is no good having a full complement of staff in attendence if there is is insufficient revenue to cover the cost of their wages.

    Andy
     
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  7. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    I don't think there will be the market to operate any heritage railway though.
    If pubs, restaurants, cinemas cannot open until July at the earliest there is little point in heritage railways opening as majority are passengers who will visit other places in the local area - such as a pub, restaurant, museum, stately home etc.
    People will not be going on holidays this year, not just abroad but here too.
     
  8. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    If i am honest, i don't think that may lines will be able to reopen fully until next year, Its going to be September before the lock down can be fully lifted and then, the public i don't think will have the disposable income to do anything but normal life, and Some railways will re open, but many will struggle, some, unfortunatly i fear will close, not just because of covid issues,, but because of mis management, and internal strife .
     
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  9. oldmrheath

    oldmrheath Well-Known Member

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    Those members of the public who have not suffered loss of income will probably have cash available to spend having not been able to during the summer. Whether travelling on a heritage railway is something they will feel comfortable doing is another matter.

    Jon
     
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  10. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Only partly so, the details haven’t emerged yet but the employees wages will be protected at 80% of their usual earnings the amount the government will contribute will drop, rumoured to be to 60% meaning an increased cost from July meeting the other 20%.
     
  11. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Indeed, but that still may well be cheaper than paying 100% of your wages, and all the usual operating costs, if not many people are going to be turning up on your trains.
     
  12. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    There certainly are members of the public who have had routine spending reduced during the present circumstances. e.g, a family where parents have been retained on full pay but working from home. No fuel used. No childcare costs as kids are at home. No PTA scams requiring children to go to school in fancy dress and pay for privilege. No school meals. No scouts subs, music lessons or sports team subs. No round of golf. No dinners out, no babysitters fees. Shopping costs reduced, as no shops to buy clothes etc. Less ready meals purchased, as less pressure to feed people before scouts/sport etc. Such folk are seeing their outgoing reduced by several hundred pounds per month.
    They likely have not been able to book a holiday, and if there is less peer pressure about what holiday to take, maybe they won't book a holiday. Or won't want to be seen as extravagant/reckless in booking a holiday abroad(if it were possible). Kids are getting very bored of not seeing friends. These families are going to want days out, when days out are available. There's going to be a lot of pent-up consumerism too.
    The parents are mostly not in the "at risk" group. The children are mostly not in the "at risk" group. As far as I am informed, much social media is not raising scare stories about health. People will make themselves comfortable with whatever they want to feel comfortable with, in the same way as they usually manage to afford the things they want to afford.
    Whether preserved railways present themselves as a fun family day out will be the deciding factor.
     
  13. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    I, and I'm sure quite a few others, would happily pay £10+ to sit in my car at a station car park eg Quorn, Rothley etc. and watch/photograph steam trains going to and fro with carriages or wagons. Family groups could hire a carriage for a day so it is possible to generate an income whilst maintaining social distancing on heritage railways. The movement has overcome many huge hurdles in the past and I'm sure it will do the same again.
     
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  14. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    I'm not sure I'd pay £10 to sit in your car at a station car park. I barely know you
     
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  15. lostlogin

    lostlogin Member

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    Financially heritage railway should by now be drawing up contingency plans based no operating this season and for a 10 or 20% reduction next year as we have no idea how the economy will recover and whether some people will be reluctant to visit heritage railways. That could especially the case in respect of pensioners. If we have any operating this year it should be treated as a bonus, at best it might be a pared back Santa service. Hopefully they will be assisted with Govt support for staff for a good while yet.

    Presumably loco's, stock, buildings are or will be stored as they would be when out of use over the winter as I am sure there will be a notice period before railways start up again so they will have time to refill boilers, tanks etc if they have all been drained.

    Obviously there is ongoing maintenance and I have seen that the odd railway has brought back the odd few staff off furlough for a week here and there to attend to the odd item, such as cutting vegetation back, weed killing etc so it will not be like a jungle when staff, volunteers return. I am sure most railways have a few people working here and there just to ensure locos are prepared properly for storage, line sides don't over grown. Presumably railways will have basic plans in place by now to ensure they don't deteriorate.

    Those are the three things, financial planning, safe storage of stock & basic upkeep, that railways are doing presently if they have not already done so they have a reasonable base to start from.

    Thereafter it is hopefully a case of, when the workers and volunteers return, of blowing the cobwebs off and being in a position, both financially and staffing, to pick up from where everybody left off. The big issue is going to be all the paperwork railways are going to need in terms of risk assessments and staff being deemed competent after a substantial period away. I see this really as a red tape job rather than a training issue, as whilst I am not denying the importance, I expect most experienced volunteers/operating staff would still be more than competent on returning. It is not quite like falling off a bike but I have had extend gaps in volunteering and to be blunt you don't really forget most of what you learnt. I am sure many of you have had experience of old BR fireman and drivers being given a turn after a gap of many years and you would hardly know.
     
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  16. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    why does the tina turner song steamy windows flash in my mind,, i just hope the steam is on the outside, not from with in.:)
     
  17. lostlogin

    lostlogin Member

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    Most people who pay money to join others in cars in remote car parks don't normally know them either
     
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  18. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    I suppose if your lucky enough to have a vintage coach set, then a limited pre booked service might be possible, but it would have to be strickly pre booked, and only to parties per compartment, and if your able to offer a hamper refreshment option with disposable plates cuttery etc, that might be one option, that might make enough money to keep the wolves at bay.
     
  19. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Unfortuantly its quite a problem as genuine Dog walkers tend to use the same car parks, and a f**k Off mate, tends to upset them, It can be fun though when you wear dark clothing, have a big black geman shepard in tow, then you can watch the cars race off, as the occupants panic and flee. :)
     
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  20. lostlogin

    lostlogin Member

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    It might be enough to cover the operating costs of that train but it is not really going to be a decent revenue stream.

    Out of interest what are the minimum staffing levels railways to operate minimal service, basically one loco and coaches operating a couple of round trips. (Cafes etc are closed) I presume some like the welsh narrow gauge can operate on five. Driver, Fireman, Guard, Booking Clerk, Controller/Platform Inspector with some lines down to maybe only 2 or three.

    With the larger standard gauge lines even when running a minimal passenger service do they require stations and signal boxes open so increasing staffing requirements?
     

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