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*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*On 31 July the following day's relaxed restrictions were withdrawn following an increase in cases, leading to fears of a 'second wave'.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. 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. *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. 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 Shropshire in Tier 2. *On 8 December the first person was inoculated.*Despite some recovery from May onwards, the UK economy in August October remained 128% below the pre-pandemic levels.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sepdec/1110/uk-economiceconomy-recoveryalmost-at-a-standstill-before-fromnew-covid-19restrictions-hit-crisisons-continues Partingtonsays Elliott, RichardL., 'UK's economic recovery from Covid-19 crisis continueseconomy almost at a standstill before new COVID restrictions hit, ONS says', The Guardian, 11 September 10 December 2020] (Retrieved 11 September 10 December 2020)</ref>*Both Shropshire and Worcestershire moved to 'tier 3' on 31 December as infection rates rose. A third English national lockdown followed from 5 January to 29 March 2021. *Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull saw local restrictions A 'two jab' vaccination programme started from 18 September 8 December 2020.<ref>[https://www.england.nhs.uk/2020/12/landmark-moment-as infections -first-nhs-patient-receives-covid-19-vaccination/ NHS.gov.uk] (Retrieved 11 July 2021)</ref> By July 2021 over half the population had received the second jab and hospital admissions rose across were deemed fully vaccinated.*In February 2021 the government published proposals for the UK conditional lifting of restrictions in England in stages between March and elsewhereJune. The latter date was extended to 19 July, with some restrictions continuing until 26 August.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co. From October uk/news/explainers-52530518 BBC News 10 July 2021]</ref> Concurrently the spread of the delta variant saw a three tiered system 'third wave' of restrictions were applied infections with the SVR numbers of infections rising exponentially from early May and peaking in tier 1 (medium) mid-July.*With numbers of continuing third wave infections, hospitalisations and parts deaths remaining stable but high, concerns over the Omicron variant led to the reimposition of mask wearing on public transport and in shops from November, just as [[Christmas services]] were starting.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59445124 'Covid: Face masks re-introduced as UK Omicron cases found', BBC News 27 November 2021]</ref> 'Plan B' restrictions followed from 10 December.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518 'What are the West Midlands in tier 2 (high)new measures for England?', BBC News, 9 December 2021]</ref> The Office for National Statistics said the economy was still 0.5% below pre-pandemic levels at the end of October<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59605111 'Economic growth stutters before impact of Omicron', BBC 10 December 2021]</ref>.
===Timeline of events on the SVR===
*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.
*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>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.*On 2 April 2021 Arts Council England awarded [[Kidderminster Railway Museum]] £19,025 through Government's Culture Recovery Fund<ref>[https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication/culture-recovery-fund-data Arts Council England] (retrieved 2 April 2021)</ref>.*2021 events restarted, but with restricted numbers and fixed bookable itineraries. *On 15 August the SVR hosted its first observation saloon experience since before the beginning of the pandemic. Footplate Experiences restarted the following month.<ref name=blsep21>[https://www.svrlive.com/blsep21 Branch Lines, September 2021]</ref> *Local 'hop on hop off' services were announced on 12 August, initially to restart midweek only in place of excursion trains from 7 September.<ref name=blaug21>[https://www.svrlive.com/blaug21 Branch Lines, August 2021]</ref> This soon changed with the announcement on 17 August that from 7 September all regular services and the Autumn Galas would revert to a more traditional operation, either with full-day freedom-of-the-line tickets or on journeys between selected stations with passengers able to choose their itineraries, rather than travelling on designated trains.*In December 2021 the SVR announced that it had been awarded £1,012,900 as part of the latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund, paying for salaries and running costs for the period between 1 October 2021 and 31 January 2022<ref>[https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/12/culture-recovery-fund-severn-valley-railway-awarded-1-million-in-latest-round.html?mc_cid=c5ab8cec52&mc_eid=1655d51c43 Rail Advent]</ref>.
==Effects on the SVR==
The combination of [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2020-2029#2020|February's flooding and land movements]], the continuing planned work at Falling Sands and coronavirus and meant the SVR was faced with a serious financial challenge. Three-quarters of paid staff were temporarily 'furloughed', volunteers instructed not to attend, and only minimal contract engineering work continued. The railway remained unconnected between Bewdley and Kidderminster.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blapr20 Branch Lines, April 2020] (Retrieved 2 April 2020)</ref>.
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>.
==See also==
==Links==
[[Category:Lottery funding]]
