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Changes
Lockdown 2.0 November 2020
*On 31 July the following day's relaxed restrictions were withdrawn following an increase in cases, leading to fears of a 'second wave'.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%.
*From August were frequent and short notice changes in guidance with both further relaxations, local lockdowns being introduced and restrictions on overseas travel. Despite some recovery from May onwards, the UK economy in August remained 12% below the pre-pandemic levels<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/11/uk-economic-recovery-from-covid-19-crisis-continues Partington, Richard, 'UK's economic recovery from Covid-19 crisis continues', The Guardian, 11 September 2020] (Retrieved 11 September 2020)</ref>.
*Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull saw local restrictions from 18 September as infections and hospital admissions rose across the UK and elsewhere. From October a three tiered system of restrictions were applied with the SVR in tier 1 (medium) and parts of the West Midlands in tier 2 (high). *On 31 October the government announced a further lockdown in England from 5 November to 2 December.
===Timeline of events on the SVR===
*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. By mid-September variations on the plan were announced for October (Friday to Sunday, plus half-term and Ghost trains) and November (weekend) services.
*On 9 October the SVR was awarded £906,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/445-heritage-organisations-saved-by-103-million-investment-from-government Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport] (Retrieved 9 October 2020)</ref>.
*2 November: it postponed train services for a month, including the start of [[Christmas services]].
==Effects on the SVR==
