West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Following the report a considerable amount of volunteer work went into designing an implementation plan. That suggested that the re structure could be implemented quite cheaply, However it seems that the PLC board were understandably concerned about the distraction and diversion of resource that implementing a re-structure would have on the resources needed to recover from the pandemic. That's judgement call that they have the responsibility for making. I don't know enough to suggest whether they were right or wrong.
Ultimately the immediate issue is ability to raise enough funds to create a base on which to move forward with enhanced fundraising. The benefits of charitable status in that respect are well recognised. Perhaps "Do Nothing" is an unfair criticism. It appears to be more case of focussing on re- opening the railway and raising a million pounds. I would be very surprised if the PLC board hasn't already considered all the options open to it.

 

Or they have factored this in to the decision and made arrangements accordingly?

 

Perhaps they will be making payment on completion of the job, rather than paying anything up front. If so, the only risk they face is the cost of moving 1466 to a new contractor.

 

What of the support agencies such as the WSRA? Notably quiet about this matter. The only comment recently made was for Trustees, and just a small announcement, in early June, about the appeal. It does suggest some lack of support by WSR Members yet the general public are asked to cough up a million.

 

I suggest several reasons, WSR itis being one, fear of being thrown off the railway being another.

Or of course they are fully aware of what is happening & trying to work out what on earth they can do about it

 

JJP:- "If we do nothing and sit still the railway will bleed itself dry of money..."

Shame he didn't realise that before while others were opening and generating revenue. Perhaps someone should have told him... Oh...

 

Sorry to disagree but from all I've seen in the past I'd be very surprised if the PLC board has considered any options that they didn't think of.

 

Here's another appeal for £1 million, but Blackpool is clear about its objectives.
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/0...illion-in-donations-to-repair-depot-roof.html

 

Perhaps unintentionally that makes an important point. Revenue alone is not necessarily a good reason for opening. If the incremental costs of operating exceed the income that can be generated then, from a purely financial perspective, re-opening with a restricted service may just make matters worse. Some heritage lines decided that there were other priorities, such as maintaining competence and volunteer morale. The assumption that the financial situation must have been better if the WSR had re opened sooner is a brave one.

 

I seem to recall that the PLC Board initially cited the alleged 6 figure cost as the main reason for delaying the restructuring. Then later (possibly when that huge cost was shown to be nonsense) they carried out the flawed consulation of shareholders to provide an excuse for never restructuring.

 

Without access to figures, it's speculation. But the fact that most railways of any scale reopened tells me something about the importance of operating, and drawing cash.

The WSR chose not to reopen during 2020; it foresook the fares income that a reopening programme would have driven. We know that the WSR, like a number of lines, uses a mixture of volunteers and paid staff, and that there were staff furloughed. However, in those circumstances, where fixed costs remained to be met, and we know that the area had a very strong holiday season, I find it hard to believe that the net cashflow from operating would not have been positive.

 

Unfortunately, the railway won't learn from it, because they seem unable, or unwilling to see where they have gone wrong, and anyone who points it out, gets thrown off by the PLC, It will take an " Llangollen Moment " For the truth to hit home, but it will be too late, those who created this mess won't hang around to take responsibility either, you can bet they will flee the sinking ship, the blame game will be even worse than has seen before as each group will be in full revenge mode, when its everyone's fault, going back years to not take the reduction in traffic seriously, and allowing the fabric of the line, to deteriate to the point where by it became to bad to run trains and a lot of work is needed to bring it back up to a standard where it was possible,

 

Too bad the WSR has put off the organizational re-arrangement, so that significant assets are owned by a separate trust, making them immune if the trading company goes bust; that might relieve the concerns of some potential donors. (Yes, if the trading company is operating at a loss, there's still an issue; but if e.g. the track, and the maintenance thereof, etc were moved to a separate entity, that should make running the trading company 'in the black' easier.)

PS:

Sound like the WSR has got itself into a 'chicken and egg' situation. People won't donate the money needed to save the line to the current structure, but they can't/won't change the structure.

Noel

 

I think you are confusing "number of posters" with "percentage of posters". However, it's not just that most of the people who habitually post on here have made this point, it is also noticeable that there are a high proportion of posters who appear to be coming onto this thread to point out the lack of clarity of the appeal's objectives who don't normally post on this thread and that we are not "just seeing the same hands in the air".

 

OTOH, wasn't it already the case then that the Seaward Way crossing equipment had come to the end of its useful life, so the Minehead staycationers couldn't have caught a train from Minehead anyway?