* A Llangollen Railway steam train carves its way through the
Dee Valley in better days.
Around £12,000 has so far been raised by an appeal to
help Llangollen Railway survive the enforced coronavirus lockdown.
Railway bosses have warned that the loss of revenue since
the heritage line was closed on March 23 in line with government guidance could
mean it might be unable to survive.
Since then hundreds of supporters have rallied to its aid
and have so far donated about £12,000.
Of this almost £11,000 has come from an online appeal.
Normally the
railway would just have had a bumper Easter weekend with two trains operating
an hourly service between Llangollen and Carrog.
And last weekend should have been the Thomas the Tank event, which is another
large earner.
Instead, all is
quiet along the line of the only standard gauge heritage railway in North
Wales.
All stations
are closed and trains are in the depots, the full time staff laid-off, with volunteers
staying at home along with the visitors.
A direct appeal
for financial help was recently made on Facebook by railway general manager Liz
McGuinness in which she said: “Forty-five years of endeavour in rebuilding the
railway as a tourist attraction is under threat.
“Yes, the
railway is closed and may never reopen its doors if we don’t receive enough
donations or grant funding. We are extremely grateful for the donations we have
received so far and they are helping to keep us alive for now.
“As a major
attraction in the Dee Valley, Llangollen Railway puts approximately £8.5
million in to the local economy every year and to lose that would be a massive
negative to all the town's businesses and the surrounding area which benefits
from visitors to the local stations and access to the Dee Valley Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty.
“In appealing
for help from our many supporters I say we cannot let this beautiful heritage railway
die.
“We support too
many businesses and jobs in the area to let that happen but help is needed if
we are to see the way through this difficult period."
Llangollen
Railway’s Facebook page has many comments in support of the railway and concern
for its future as well as some criticism as to why a volunteer operation needs
cash when UK government support is available.
Railway operations
manager Paul Reynolds said: “Unfortunately there is a severe gulf
between what Mr Sunak in London and Mr Drakeford in Cardiff announce and its
processing out in ‘the wild’.
“Approximately 300,000 applications have been made for
business support and only about 10,000 have been processed.
“Sitting in the pending tray of a bank or government
department still does not pay the bills when your major source of income,
namely train ticket sales, has been cut off and is likely to remain so for at
least the next three weeks - or more.
"Goods and services purchased
over the last couple of months are now being invoiced – usually 30 days and
possibly 60 days depending on your credit standing with your supplier – and
payment is expected.
“Unless our railway can find an
independent source of income, such as donations, to cover the lost
revenue it is unlikely to survive, at least in its current form.
“It brings no comfort to know that the
greater portion of the heritage rail Industry is facing the same problems.
“All
the narrow gauge lines in north-west and mid-Wales face a similar plight of
course with varying degrees of support for their individual situations. Loss of
any or all of these attractions would be a major disaster for Wales tourism.”
