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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 From August services for were frequent and short notice changes in guidance with both further relaxations, local lockdowns being introduced and restrictions on overseas travel. *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, on a Wednesday further lockdown in England from 5 November to Sunday basis2 December. The furlough was re-extended to 31 March 2021.*On 26 November the government announced that the restrictions reverted to an enhanced, three-tier system from 2 December, with a fourth tier added later in the month. Both Worcestershire and also including a diesel diagramme (Shropshire in Tier 2. *On 8 December the first diesel passenger services person was inoculated.*Despite some recovery from May onwards, the UK economy in October remained 8% below the pre-pandemic levels<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/10/uk-economy-almost-at-a-standstill-before-new-covid-restrictions-hit-ons-says Elliott, L., 'UK economy almost at a standstill before new Covid restrictions hit, ONS says', The Guardian, 10 December 2020] (Retrieved 10 December 2020)</ref>.*Both Shropshire and Worcestershire moved to 'tier 3' on 31 December as infection rates rose. A limited number third English national lockdown followed from 5 January 2021.*In February 2021 the government published proposals for the conditional lifting of seats restrictions in open carriages was included, for groups of 1-4 passengersstages between March and June.
===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. 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]].
*26 November: The Railway confirmed that Christmas services would operate as planned from 3 December, the published statement being "''The Railway is in an area that has been designated as Tier 2 in the new post-national lockdown restrictions. This means that we’re able to open December 3rd and Christmas events will go ahead as planned. If you have bought event tickets, or are interested in buying event tickets, but you live in a Tier 3 area we strongly recommend that you read the Government guidelines before you travel out of your Tier 3 area''"<ref>[https://www.svr.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?a=948 SVR Website] (retrieved 30 November 2020</ref>.
*31 December: As a result of both Shropshire and Worcestershire moving to 'tier 3', all public services were suspended until further notice, although only 4 days running remained.
*January 2021: February half-term services were cancelled, with the next intended services being Easter from 2 April 2021. Staff were again furloughed and non-essential voluntary work deferred. The first special event of the year was announced, the Spring Steam Up replacing the Spring Steam Gala in April, with continuing restrictions on travel such as pre-booked compartments and tables only. The Fight Back Fund total had reached £930,000. The Trust submitted a further application to round 2 of the Culture Recovery Fund.
*February 2021: The railway announced it planned to restart its public services with regular excursion services from 12 April and other facilities opening when permitted, with previous COVID-19 safe measures continuing.
*In March 2021 the SVR's bid for a second Culture Recovery Grant failed.
==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 stood to 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 In mitigation, it successfully applied to HSBC for a £1.5 million loan under the CBILS scheme, which alongside its existing overdraft facility would mean £2.5 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>Wyre Forest District Council awarded the Railway £50,000 under its discretionary business grant scheme but, even after donations and grants, by September SVR(H) had still lost £2.8m in revenue.<ref name="bloct20">[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug20 Branch Lines, October 2020]</ref> It later received £906,000 from the Culture Recovery Fund.
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"/>. In 2021 February half-term, Easter and services to early April were lost, with restricted passenger numbers thereafter, and later reopenings for museums and pubs.
==See also==
