The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has announced that it has received a £50,000 National Lottery Grant to help with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant will allow the railway to complete the replacement work of the 115-year-old bridge number 11.
Work was halted on the bridgework due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Since the lockdown, the KWVR has been closed, and activities were reduced to security tasks only.
Dr Matt Stroh, Chairman of the Keighley & Worth Valley said: “Thanks to the National Lottery and its players we can now complete the work necessary to replace the venerable 115-year old bridge and will then be in a position to reopen the railway to passengers.
“Without their support, we would have struggled to meet the additional costs caused by having to pause and then recommence the work at a time when we have had no income from operations for over three months. We are so very grateful that The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting us at this crucial time, especially as they were able to process the application and provide the funds in such a timely manner – it is a lifeline to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of all. As a result of their funding, we can look forward to reopening the Railway to passengers, currently planned for mid-August, albeit with continued restrictions to protect the safety of our volunteers and visitors.”
The funding was made possible by National Lottery players and was awarded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund's Heritage Emergency Fund. £50m has been made available to support those most in need across the heritage sector.
Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All of these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis.
“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway during this uncertain time.”
RailAdvent are continuing to support the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, with between £5 and £10 being donated to the railway's appeal on selected DVD/Blu-rays. More Details by clicking here.
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Also, I wonder where the rest of currently stored ex-BR Pacer Units may be placed when the KWVR Reopens back up and running.
I’ve still A Reason to Believe the storage of the number of Pacers within Keighley railway station platforms 3 & 4 let alone across the bridge (Toward Ingrow en-route) may have played A vital role in keeping the KWVR forever existing and something to do to pass the time.
I do hope some of the other stored Pacers also get Potentially Preserved (like some of the other Pacers have recently).
Oh Am So Glad the KWVR still has A Future,
In-fact Am even relieved this Yorkshire Branch Line Heritage Railway has at long last been Awarded latest National Lottery Grant, Especially in an Aimful Effort to fight back/combat Covid-19, let alone rebuild/replace the old Victorian Bridge (11) structure along the line.
Having previously visited and memorably rode the Well-Preserved Branch Line Route of the KWVR ‘in-person’… I always knew the KWVR would Eventually Succeed (As Successfully As the whole KWVR has ever done).
Furthermore, Well Done to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society on it’s Role in Combating Covid-19 so far… And Congratuations on the Rewarding Award of this Thankful Grant by the National Lottery.
It’s Thankfully Grateful the UK National Lottery most Definitely Cares and looks up to British Railway Heritage.
Be good if ALL lines were given such support from the Lottery.