Keighley and Worth Valley Railway set to re-open thanks to Lottery grant

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has been closed since March

The heritage line's managers feared the season could be completely wiped out by the lockdown after being forced to close back in March.

They face a major loss of income from ticket sales and events during one of the most challenging years in the railway's history, having already had to contend with the flooding to the engine sheds in Haworth during Storm Ciara in February, when several locomotives were damaged.

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Yet a lifeline thrown by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in the form of a £50,000 grant will enable the KWVR to re-open in mid-August.

The cash will allow engineers to complete repairs to a 115-year-old bridge which would otherwise have been funded by revenue from customers.

Work on the bridge was halted at the start of the pandemic, and only essential maintenance on the route has taken place.

KWVR chairman Dr Matt Stroh said: “Thanks to the National Lottery and its players we can now complete the work necessary to replace the venerable 115-year old bridge and will then be in a position to re-open the railway to passengers in the coming weeks.

"Without their support, we would have struggled to meet the additional costs caused by having to pause and then recommence the work at a time when we have had no income from operations for over three months. We are so very grateful that the National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting us at this crucial time, especially as they were able to process the application and provide the funds in such a timely manner. It is a lifeline to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of all."

The railway still faces uncertainty over how its operations will be affected by social distancing, and capacity on trains is likely to be reduced, which will have a further impact on income.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has confirmed that it will re-open on August 1, and supporters of the Wensleydale Railway have donated £46,000 to an appeal to save it.