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Plan B restrictions
*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 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 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 third English national lockdown followed from 5 January to 29 March 2021.
*A 'two jab' vaccination programme started from 8 December 2020.<ref>[https://www.england.nhs.uk/2020/12/landmark-moment-as-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 were deemed fully vaccinated.
*In February 2021 the government published proposals for the conditional lifting of restrictions in England in stages between March and June. The latter date was extended to 19 July, with some restrictions continuing until 26 August.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518 BBC News 10 July 2021]</ref> Concurrently the spread of the delta variant saw a 'third wave' of infections with numbers of infections rising exponentially from early May and peaking in mid-July. *With numbers of continuing third wave infections, hospitalisations and 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 new measures for England?', BBC News, 9 December 2021]</ref>.
===Timeline of events on the SVR===
*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.
*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. The Railway would, however, continue to offer a small number of private bookable compartments, where passengers are guaranteed exclusive use of a compartment on a single train, throughout the day.*With numbers of continuing third wave infections, hospitalisations and 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>.
==Effects on the SVR==
==Links==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_coronavirus_pandemic 2019–20 coronavirus COVID-19_pandemic COVID-19 pandemic on Wikipedia]
[[Category:Lottery funding]]
