Covid-19 Update – August 2020

UPDATE AUGUST 2020(updated 8th August) – Worth Valley services are to restart on 19th August as the major bridge repairs are complete, use of our compartment carriages is planned for Vintage Trains on Sundays – see our post Expected Use and Worth Valley website here
East Lancashire Railway services did not run on 1st/2nd August due to local changes but are now planned for each weekend in August and Bank Holiday Monday. See our post Expected Use and the ELR website here
UPDATE JULY 2020 – (updated 31st July) the Worth Valley are now preparing to restart passenger services from mid-August after planned completion of the major bridge replacement project which split the line south of Ingrow and had to be abandoned in March. When services resume, it is expected that compartment carriages have to be used to satisfy social distancing, so our carriages have been requested for use in Vintage Trains services.
At East Lancashire Railway, trial services have been announced for the first 2 weekends of August but our active loco 752 is not currently scheduled to operate on them. NOTE – at the last minute the ELR have decided that trains will not run on 1st/2nd August.
There is interest in carrying out work on our locos 752 and 19 at the ELR to provide paid work for the permanent staff, the trustees are in negotiation for this as it may enable restoration to take place earlier than otherwise expected, especially as our funds have not been much affected by the lockdown – unlike most other railway organisations.

UPDATE JUNE 2020 – as many will be aware, restrictions surrounding the outbreak of Covid-19 has caused many railways to close to protect the public, staff and volunteers.
As a result, both the Worth Valley Railway and the East Lancashire Railway have taken the decision to close for the forseeable future. This means that none of our stock is in use or on display, the carriages and Pug 51218 at the Worth Valley Railway and 752 and 19 at the East Lancashire Railway.

FUTURE USE:
Our six-wheelers and the Club Carriage were expected to be in use on the Worth Valley’s six Vintage Train Sundays in June and July. These trains had to be cancelled as well as all other events later in 2020. As and when trains can be operated our website will be updated, you can also refer to the Worth Valley website.

752 (currently as 51456) – most events on the East Lancashire Railway have been cancelled, however it is expected that if the opportunity arises to run short trains, that 752/51456 is likely to be used. Again our website will be updated as necessary, you can also refer to the East Lancs website.