A HERITAGE railway has been given a platform for recovery after receiving a £115,000 grant two weeks before it reopens.

The Government’s Culture Recovery Fund grant will help Dean Forest Railway bounce back from the pandemic, with restrictions on passenger numbers and catering still set to be in force for some time to come when trains start running again from April 17.

Forest of Dean Railway Ltd’s chairman Adam Dickinson, said: “Our loss of revenue in 20/21 from only being able to run half-full trains - with no special events - has delayed DFR’s major scheme to start building a dedicated carriage shed at Lydney Junction, but the award will fill a significant gap in funding and enable us to cover vital operating and overhead costs whilst we reopen, as well as some necessary repairs and maintenance.

“Once normal service resumes, complete with our special events, the revenue should mean we can make a start on our major projects.

“We are also incredibly grateful for the support shown by enthusiasts, friends and visitors contributing to the Emergency Appeal which was organised by the Dean Forest Railway Society.

“They targeted £50,000 and actually raised just over £75,000, which has been a huge help.”

He added: “The last 12-month period of reduced income has halted much of the railway’s planned improvements.

“Behind the scenes, we have only been continuing essential maintenance, but many of our working volunteers have not been able to enjoy their ‘outdoor gym’ if they have needed to shield.

“The most conspicuous absences from DFR’s calendar have been the annual Steam and Diesel Galas, Murder Mystery evenings, ‘Royal Forester’ dining trains, the afternoon cream tea services and the ‘Fish and Chip evening specials’, all of which sell-out consistently…

“Overall we will have provided our timetabled service between last year’s March lockdown and our resumption this April 17 for only 13 socially-distanced weeks and five Santa Special weeks instead of what should have totalled 42 weeks.

“In fact we opened as usual in March 2020 for just one week! We still don’t know exactly how the pandemic will play out through 2021, so we haven’t yet been able to commit to the Galas.

“And it would be tragic – and expensive – to plan them, only needing to cancel at the last moment.

“DFR’s Santa Specials were able to run, but for reduced visitor numbers before they were cut short by one week.

“Santa and his elves were located at a marquee on the platform at Lydney Junction instead of coming down the train: social distancing being supervised everywhere, of course.”

The safety of visitors has been ensured when trains have been able to run with online-only booking and not being able to board trains at DFR’s five stations other than the main centre at Norchard.

Whistles café on Platform 2 has been open, but only with a take-away service.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said nearly £400m has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund.