Recommissioning after Coronavirus

Last word from me.
And, with respects, from persons involved who are adamant that examples could (and indeed were given to the LA) - be given of heritage railways who were in the same tier 3 at the time as the ELR who were allowed by their local authorities to operate.

 

A rough guideline has always been that a railway has to have more than a single station to be considered part of a transport network. A railway with just a single station is 'entertainment'. But even that doesn't really cover somewhere like Didcot Railway Centre which has several stations, but only a single entry/exit for the whole site.

 

That's a general guideline applied for vat purposes. I think in terms of being a transport system it is arguable that a significant number of people get off the train and go somewhere/do something before returning. If you just carry people out and back then, to me, that isn't transport, it is simply a train ride. This, though, makes cleaning and seat allocation a much harder task.

 

The ELR were in T3 and MHR in T2. Those that operated in T3 did so because the LA were prepared to accept that the railway was undertaking a transport function. The guidance was clear that if you were not undertaking a transport function....I.e. transporting people to a location different to the start point for "something" to happen, you had to stay shut.

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I know I said last word, but respectfully must put you right. Please will you stop talking about ELR as opposed to MHR. I am fully aware of which relative tiers that these particular railways were in. I'll say it again so perhaps this time it will get through. There were railways in Tier 3 undertaking exactly the same function as ELR (Santa Specials) who were allowed to carry on operating by a different attitude from those LA's - indeed, the ELR Santa trains have always contained accommodation for 'standard' customers who wished to have an 'ordinary' ride, fulfilling the criteria of passenger transport. That is the point that is being made, nothing more and nothing less. Just accept that perhaps in this case more is known by someone about the particular circumstances than you do.

 

In my earlier post I was careful to ask, does your railway expect crowds, and if so, can you control them. The precautions on the EVR were, I hope more than adequate there and were approved by the local authority. However, ours was a relatively modest affair. Some railways would have set out to carry more than ten times as many passengers, which is not the same thing.

 

ELR and KWVR, one ran and one didn't. Compartment stock verses open stock.

 

Respectfully I wasnt placing them at odds. I was agreeing with you. You should read what I wrote. We were in T2 and ELR was in T3... not comparable. Some other railways also in T3 were able to operate. This seems to have been LA interpretation. Perhaps our only point of difference is that I personally might have interpreted the guidance the same as the ELR LA, and different to the GC LA.

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Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway intending reopening on 27 April as long as Boris's roadmap dates don't slip. For the time being, it will be with the same limitations as last summer/autumn. https://ravenglass-railway.co.uk/

 

Looks like Ffestiniog are now running. A three coach train just leaving Portmadog after having loaded a small number of passengers

 

I highly doubt that given that I'm fairly sure they would be breaking the law by operating a passenger service at the moment, and they have posted absolutely nothing about them reopening today. I'd guess it's more likely a test or crew retraining run?

 

Reported elsewhere as a filming contract to Tanybwlch, with Welsh Pony and three vintage carriages used.
Michael Ball as the presenter, but no mention of the filming company.

 

Welsh Pony and short train arrived at Tan-y-Bwlch.
No sign of 'normal' passengers so presumably training, though it looks like a few photographers/onlookers were there ready to meet it!


Edit: Just seen post above about filming contract

 

Is it actually against the law? In law, most heritage railways are transport undertakings governed by similar rules to mainline railways, trams and buses, all of which are permitted to operate.

Its probably unwise for anyone to force the issue, and in England at least, any individual would need a reasonable excuse for travelling, but I'd be reasonably sure that operating public trains in and of itself isn't against the law.

 

It is a different ball game in Wales, isn't it? I know you can get your hair cut there, unlike England.

 

There is still a “stay local” rule in Wales at present. I doubt whether this would make any opening viable regardless of whether it is actually permitted or not.

 

Some activity this afternoon at Loughborough.

 

As there was on the IOWSR . Steam tests plus trials of newly refurbished S.E.C.R. bogie composite hauled with a matching brake third by W11.

Now there's a pretty train .

 

Bluebell Railway - Provisional reopening date 20 May 2021

We are pleased to announce a provisional reopening date of Thursday 20 May.

This provisional reopening date is in line with the Government’s roadmap for easing the lockdown restrictions.

Tickets will go on sale at 11am on Wednesday 31 March, and services will include The Pioneer, The Wealden Rambler Afternoon Tea, The Blue Belle Dining and Luncheon trains.

We will initially release tickets for the first few weeks of services and will continue to release tickets in blocks of several weeks at a time. All tickets will have to be pre-booked online before the day of travel.

Bluebell Railway interim chairman Graham Flight said: “We have studied the Government documents and believe we can open safely towards the end of May. We look forward to seeing families, train enthusiasts and groups of visitors back at the Bluebell.”

See: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/reopening-20-may-faqs/

 

The Bluebell Railway has announced today that they will be reopening on 20th May. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday, 31 March. All seats must be pre-booked, starting from Sheffield Park and running to East Grinstead.
Edit. Tom bear me to it!