Recommissioning after Coronavirus

This interesting comment has appeared on the GCR FB page....

We have been working with the local authorities to confirm the situation with both Santa Express and Winter Wonderlights trains. We have been advised that more detailed guidance will be available soon from HM Government which should allow a decision to be taken.

We very much appreciate your patience while we work with the local authorities to obtain clarity on the situation.

Lets hope HM Govt actually make a clear decision for a change....

 

In the different context of a church choir, I’m aware there’s a lot of detail not yet available about what is and isn’t possible under the tier system.


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Nene Valley Railway is running its Santa Specials.

https://nvr.org.uk/product.php/171/santa-steam

 

Blimey, is the corpse of the Wretched Somerset Railway still twitching?

 

Apparently so, have you not been and looked at the thread?

 

I have as much desire to read that as I do the squabbling about motorbikes and F1 currently going on elsewhere. Besides which, I discovered a little trick to block entire threads from view: if you make the thread starter a "person you ignore" the whole thread magically disappears. It was a great pity to have to do that to the late Dr. Randles but it keeps the squabbling children out of my view...

I still think SCC giving the entire trackbed to Sustrans is a much better use of it.

 

So I suppose the bottom line appears to be confusion for Tier 3 areas.
SVR and ELR I believe saying yes running
AVR, KESR and CVR saying not running
GCR awaiting on local council.
Tanfield being reviewed.

Bluebell (in tier 2) is of course running but apparently de-rostering volunteers living in Kent (according to the email group).

They can not all be correct of course, I hope they get some guidance soon.

 

SVR is in tier 2 not 3. I think it was mentioned somewhere that the CVR had been advised not to run by their local council, so it'll be interesting to see what the GCR gets told.

 

I suspect confusion is that if you live in a tier 3 area you appear to be able to go to a tier 2 area railway. I also think that it is certainly implied in the guidance that railways can be open in Tier 3.

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I winced at the PM's comments that it has brought clarity: guidelines (as that's what the travel ones are) are ambiguous and contradictory and already being interpreted by people differently, causing some public animosity directed at those that are doing things from others that think they ought not to.

A public comment elsewhere is the SVR have had some people cancel but a greater demand from people wanting to go now they're going to be open.

I'm just off to book my tier 3 facial...

Patrick

 

I've read and re-read the guidance and it is clear that those in Tier 3 areas should avoid leaving their local area except for work, medical appointments etc.

Where is the guidance which implies the opposite?

I also fail to see how railways in Tier 3 areas can possibly think that the guidance the Government has issued suggests that they can have the public travel on trains.

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And are they railways or tourist attractions?

 

Heritage railways are tourist attractions but the train element would be considered a “transport system” for those railways that actually run from A to B (as opposed to being wholly contained within one site eg Didcot).

 

Putting aside the question of whether heritage railways are transport or visitor attractions, in tier 3 outdoor attractions can operate but any indoor parts must close. The question then becomes 'is a train indoors?'

 

The agreed line among Welsh railways was that HR’s are an outdoor attraction, with the train element a transport system. I was part of a call between Welsh railways and Visit Wales back in July and this was generally accepted by all present.

 

I think I posted in an earlier post that the fact many of the rules are basically just guidance is madness. This does not affect me but we have the scientists and politicians stating the best way to stop the spread etc is limit travel & mingling in crowds but it appears, unlike the rules in Wales, if you are in Tier 3 it is only guidance to try and work from home, not travel etc. In wales you were basically stopped. I would be well peed off if I lived in a Tier 1 area and founds loads travelling to it from Tier 3 area as they can visit the pub for a few beers in the Tier 1 area when they cannot at home. It just seems daft to me that if you live in a Tier 3 area you cannot go to a pub or restaurant in that area but you can if you travel somewhere where it is allowed.

I appreciate railways need the funds, although some have had fairly decent hand outs from the Gov't, but it just seems madness that some, in say Tier 2 areas, are encouraging those in Tier 3 areas to travel. It seems to go against everything the Gov't are suggesting and when the industry wants and has received Gov't support it seems encouraging exactly what the Gov't and scientists don't want to happen is not going to go down well with the authorities when /if they notice.

Just to add a bit of context this is from an official SVR notice "We understand that some visitors will be in areas that are under the ‘Tier 3’ classification, however, if you are one of these people, you CAN still visit us for our Santa Trains, Steam in Lights, Mince Pie Specials and any of our festive season services. Government guidelines for these areas state that ‘You can still travel to venues or amenities which are open…’" I just question whether as an industry heritage railways should be sending out such a message at present. Note I am not questioning the legality of what is being done.

 

I notice the SVR statement has changed. It is now "We are operating in a tier 2 area and have taken the decision to close our pubs, but keep the Railway open for our carefully planned Christmas services. Passengers should read the guidelines for themselves and decide whether or not they would like to visit us over Christmas."
https://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?a=948

Edit: Wording changed again by midday - see post below.

 

When you can't prevent people from a tier 3 region visiting a steam railway, pub, or anywhere in a tier 1 region, it's all a bit of a mockery , far better to insist that you can book and travel, but everyone has to have their temperature taken, upon arrival and if you, or a member of your party have a temperature, you are refused entry, prehaps there should be some way of reporting the groups names to the track and trace system also, to keep information up to date. but it can't be a free for all, there should be at least a screening done.

 

And it is all because the Westminster Government refuses to use the words banned or prohibited but keep sticking with advise or avoid.

"avoid travelling to other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey"

 

I know the wording is a bit mealy-mouthed but to me it is clear enough. I could drive ten miles to a Bluebell event, but can't drive to a Severn Valley one

If this is the advice, then it is hard to see how anyone can go anywhere beyond 'locally'.