WEST Somerset Railway this week launched a £1 million ‘Emergency SOS’ appeal to help it survive until next year after the Government turned down a request for a grant to help it recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The WSR said the money was needed because this season’s income would not cover costs and the company was faced with a trading loss of up to £1 million.

The railway has now had two cash appeals turned down, the most recent being a rejection of its bid in the second round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage, and was hoping for a £432,200 lifeline from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

WSR chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt said this week that he was ‘bitterly disappointed’ by the decision and that further cash was needed for the railway’s survival.

A WSR spokesman added: “The rejection of the WSR’s second application bid to the recovery fund was very significant for the railway as the money would have enabled the WSR to prepare for and fund the re-opening of the railway and the operations for 2022 and beyond.”

The spokesman said that, due to the revenue shortfall and reduced numbers on trains because of Covid-19 restrictions, the WSR board had decided to launch the emergency appeal, to consider another share issue and to seek support from the West Somerset Railway Association and the West Somerset Railway Heritage Trust.

Read the full report in today’s Free Press