During April, Severn Valley Railway launched an ambitious Survival Fund appeal with the aim of raising £1.5 million as part of its strategy to recover from the financial difficulties it currently faces.
The campaign has seen incredible support and has seen extensive media coverage including coverage on BBC and ITV regional news programmes, local radio stations and in local and heritage-based press.
Severn Valley Railway has also taken the initiative to write to its 250,000 shareholders, members and donors which has seen an incredible response raising a massive £230,000 for the appeal already.
Jonathan ‘Gus' Dunster, Managing Director of Severn Valley Railway said: “Things have got off to a very good start. We are enormously grateful to everyone who has donated so far. It's clear that many people understand the bigger picture of why the SVR is in financial difficulties, and very importantly why an injection of cash over the coming months will help us get beyond this, so we can concentrate on ensuring the long-term future of the SVR's heritage.”
“We've received hundreds of donations already, and these are coming both from people we know well and some who are digging deep and supporting the Railway for the very first time. Some of the stories behind why people want to help us are extremely heart-warming and show what an incredibly special place the SVR holds for so many individuals”
“When we launched the appeal in mid-April, we knew two things; one was that we might get some kick-back from people who perhaps don't fully understand the enormous difficulties facing the heritage railway movement in general and the SVR in particular, after three years of financial battering. The second was that making this appeal was absolutely the right thing to do, and this was the right time to do it. This brave initiative is going to make all the difference to our long-term survival.”
“Of course, our Survival Fund appeal is not the whole solution. Alongside this, we have implemented every single cost-saving measure we could. These have included a significant reduction in paid staff along with renegotiating supplier contracts, especially for utilities which have rocketed in price.”
Similar to most heritage railways, Severn Valley Railway has been impacted severely by changes to the financial climate created by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine alongside post-Brexit supply chain issues and the cost of living crisis.
A dramatic rise in costs for utilities, fuels including coal and diesel and general supplies have had a huge effect on the railway which has been compounded by staff shortages and a drop in visitor numbers leaving the heritage railway at risk financially.
To find out more about Severn Valley Railway's £1.5 million Survival Fund appeal please visit: https://svr.co.uk/survival/
A useful result, but how much is ‘new money’ and how much will have been diverted from other worthy schemes further down the queue? Time will tell . . .
Ah the picture of 1501 pannier tank. The 1st engine I worked as a 17yr old fireman at Hanwell Bridge, shunting yard, near Southall. Having transferred from Neath engine shed to Southall, 70 years ago.
Great news. Hope they keep it up!
Re earlier posting, “on the ago” should read ” some months ago”. As so often happens the tablet scrambled what I had typed!
I cannot understand what is going on at the “other” SVR (the Spa Valley Railway). The boiler for “Lady Ingrid” passed its steam test on the ago so one would have thought that completion was near as the new boiler ticket started ticking when the first fire was lit. But this overhaul has apparently stalled since the , so months of the new ticket have been wasted. What on earth is going on?