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*On 25 March the [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/7/contents/enacted/data.htm Coronavirus Act 2020] was passed, emergency powers legislation under which subsequent Orders were made legally to regulate activities by the authorities in England, Scottland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
*On 17 April the partial shutdown was extended for a further three weeks. The government pay scheme for furloughed workers was extended until the end of June and would be extended again "if necessary".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52323918 BBC Business, 'Coronavirus: Salary subsidy scheme extended into June', 17 April 2020] (Retrieved 18 April 2020)</ref>
*On 22 April Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical officer, said social distancing would have to stay in place until a vaccine was available, with “highly disruptive” distancing needed to be in place for “really quite a long period of time” and until at least the end of the year.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/22/uk-will-need-social-distancing-until-at-least-end-of-year-says-whitty Mason, R. and Proctor, K., 'UK will need social distancing until at least end of year, says Whitty', The Guardian, 22 April 2020] (Retrieved 22 April 2020)</ref>An unprecedented 20% contraction in the UK economy in April followed lockdown.
*On 10 May the government announced plans to ease lockdown restrictions in England to enable more people to go back to work, but that people should avoid public transport for social distancing reasons. At the earliest shops would not open until June and pubs and restaurants until July.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518 BBC News, 11 May 2020] (Retrieved 11 May 2020)</ref> People in England should now aim to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible, such as on public transport and in some shops.
*On 11 May the ORR published heritage railways recovery plan guidance, reminding them always to risk assess their return to service.<ref>[https://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/42877/heritage-railway-recovery-plan-in-response-to-covid-19.pdf ORR's heritage railways recovery plan guidance, May 2020]</ref>
*On 23 June relaxations were allowed on social distancing, and opening of pubs from 4 July.
*On 17 July further relaxations were announced to allow use of public transport and, effective 1 August, updated advice on going to work, and opening most remaining leisure settings, with appropriate social distancing<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53441912 'Coronavirus: Boris Johnson sets out plan for 'significant normality' by Christmas', BBC News, 17 July 2020] (Retrieved 17 July 2020)</ref>.
*On 31 July the following day's relaxed restrictions were withdrawn following an increase in cases, leading to fears of a 'second wave'. The SVR's reopening was not affected. The three-month period to the end of July showed a further contraction in the UK economy of 7.6%.*On 20 August services for and September were announcedsaw frequent and short notice changes in guidance with both further relaxations, local lockdowns being introduced and restrictions on a Wednesday to Sunday basisoverseas travel. Despite some recovery from May onwards, and also including a diesel diagramme (the first diesel passenger services UK economy in August remained 12% below the pre-pandemic levels<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020). A limited number of seats in open carriages was included/sep/11/uk-economic-recovery-from-covid-19-crisis-continues Partington, Richard, for groups of 1'UK's economic recovery from Covid-4 passengers19 crisis continues', The Guardian, 11 September 2020] (Retrieved 11 September 2020)</ref>.
===Timeline of events on the SVR===
*On Saturday 1 August passenger services restarted as planned, with the day being a sell-out. The Fight Back Fund total was more than £800,000.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug20 Branch Lines, August 2020]</ref>
*By 6 August the Fight Back Fund total was more than £900,000.
*During August [[Head Office|Comberton Place]] offices were closed to visitors.<ref name="blsep20">[https://www.svrlive.com/blsep20 Branch Lines, September 2020]</ref>*The same month the SVR submitted an application to the [https://historicengland.org.uk/coronavirus/funding/recovery/ Historic England Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage].<ref name="blsep20"/>Tickets went on sale for an amended [[Christmas services]] programme. *On 20 August services for September were announced, on a Wednesday to Sunday basis, and also including a diesel diagramme (the first diesel passenger services in 2020). A limited number of seats in open carriages was included, for groups of 1-4 passengers.
==Effects on the SVR==
