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*From 16 March the government began listing social distancing guidance advising large gatherings should not take place: it advised against all non-essential travel and social contact, to include working from home where possible and avoiding venues such as pubs, restaurants and theatres. These were updated daily with further restrictions requested (but not mandated) of individuals and organisations.
*On 18 March the government announced loan guarantees (CBILS) for some businesses following forecasts of a significant drop in business. For the hospitality and leisure sector there will be a business rates holiday and a £25k cash grant per retail and leisure business for those without specific pandemic insurance.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51935467 BBC News] (Retrieved 18 March 2020)</ref> This was subsequently extended to include other measures, including a 'furlough' scheme by which the government funded up to 80% of wages for laid off staff.
*On 23 March the government advised more severe measures which closed the shops and resulted in a partial 'shutdown', with people told not to leave their homes.*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>
*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.pdfORR's heritage railways recovery plan guidance, May 2020]</ref>*On 12 May the furlough scheme was extended until 31 October but with employers to be responsible for part of the cost from 1 August.*On 9 June it was announced all shops could open in England from 15 June. From the same date face coverings became required while using public transport in England, but guidance remained to avoid public transport where possible.*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.
===Timeline of events on the SVR===
*7 May The SVR announced it would apply for a grant from the [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|National Lottery Heritage Fund]] for £50,000 to help heritage businesses who have suffered because of the COVID-19 crisis. It was also working on the application for a CBILS loan. A visitor survey was to be launched to attempt to gauge the feelings of our regular visitors, to give an indication of consumer confidence and what level of visitor numbers in the coming 12 months.
*By 13 May the appeal raised more than £680,000 in donations and share purchases.
*On 21 May the SVR launched a survey, to gauge public attitudes to reopening.
*By 1 June the appeal raised more than £745,000.
*In early June it confirmed there would be no train services in July and Steam on the Road, Classic Car Day and On The Buses events were cancelled. Services for August were provisionally advertised to run on 1, 8, 9, 15, 22, 29, 30 and 31 August.
*On 11 June it announced the railway would gradually bring back its 1,800 volunteers, along with paid staff, 95% of whom were currently on furlough. Gradually works recommenced, with relaying at Foley Park restarting from 15 June. It was planned to reopen pubs on 4 July and recommence passenger services at the beginning of August.<ref>[https://www.shropshirelive.com/news/2020/06/12/severn-valley-railway-looks-to-an-august-reopening/ Shropshire Live 11 June 2020] (Retrieved 21 June 2020)</ref>
*On 23 June it announced that the King and Castle Pub at Kidderminster would reopen on 4 July.<ref>[https://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?a=927 SVR website]</ref> Three days later it announced that the Railwayman's Arms at Bridgnorth would also open on 4 July<ref>[https://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?a=928 SVR website]</ref>.
*On 2 July the services were announced for trains from August: travel on set services at specific times from Kidderminster or Bridgnorth; tickets only for compartments purchased in advance (no tickets on the day), and travel in pre-booked compartments accommodating a maximum of six people, reserved for the visitor's exclusive use all day.
*From 3 July subscribers to the SVR’s [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoaT_geZ6GwRscQgOlchh_w YouTube channel] were treated to a series of 'SVR Comeback' behind the scenes videos showing the build up to the reopening to passengers.
*On 15 July the SVR announced the award of £250,000 grant from The [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|National Lottery Heritage Emergency Fund]], the maximum amount possible under this emergency scheme<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/attractions/2020/07/15/severn-valley-railway-receives-250000-funding-boost-ahead-of-reopening/ Smith, R., 'Severn Valley Railway receives £250,000 funding boost ahead of reopening', Shropshire Star, 15 July 2020] (Retrieved 15 July 2020)</ref>.
*On 23 July the Railway's gala management advisory group took the decision to cancel the [[Autumn Steam Gala]] and Autumn Diesel Gala as there seemed little prospect of being able to mount safe and financially viable events that would appeal to a gala audience.
*On 27 July three days of test running started, with staff and volunteers as passengers to test operations prior to the public restart.
*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.
==Effects on the SVR==
The SVR also announced it would not be able "to make our crucial annual investment into the Railway. This amounts to £4.5million, and funds essential restorations to our infrastructure and rolling stock, along with apprentice training and a desperately needed overhaul of our IT infrastructure"<ref>[https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/04/severn-valley-railway-future-safe-as-416000-raised-in-appeal.html? Holden, M., Rail Advent 17 April 2020] (Retrieved 18 April 2020)</ref>.
The Railway could lose up to £6 million income in 2020.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/attractions/2020/06/11/severn-valley-railway-to-reopen-in-august/ Shropshire Star 11 June 2020] (Retrieved 21 June 2020)</ref> It successfully applied to HSBC for a £1.5 million loan under the CBILS scheme, which alongside its existing overdraft facility would mean £3 million available. The SVR Charitable Trust won a [[:Category:Lottery funding|National Lottery Heritage Fund]] grant to support the reopening of the Railway.<ref name="blaug20">[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug20 Branch Lines, August 2020]</ref>
With the intervention rate for furlough payments dropping from 1 August 2020 the SVR made up to 40 roles redundant among salaried and zero hours staff who were unable to return to their previous roles, and for whom the Railway was unable to find alternative employment<ref name="blaug20"/>.
==See also==
*[https://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?a=920 SVR Covid-19 Situation]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_coronavirus_pandemic 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on Wikipedia]
[[Category:Lottery funding]]
