This is the harsh reality that is facing all heritage railways. It's called "having to live within your means".In its 23 December 2023 "Rail Mail", the GCR says it is "rethinking its approach" to linking the Canal Bridge and the Midland Main Line bridge. I don't know what this means.
It also mentions a loss of GBP500,000 for calendar 2023, blaming the increased cost of coal and a quadrupling (!) in the cost of utilities (that I assume includes electricity). The latter seems extraordinary.
Apparently it no longer can rely on a previous 'rich benefactor'.
I hope its finances improve. Time to make a donation!
This is the harsh reality that is facing all heritage railways. It's called "having to live within your means".
It's a long time since I obtained a Lottery grant , no doubt the rules have changed but these were/are aimed at capital projects. You may have to demonstrate sufficient revenue can be generated to keep the activity / asset going but, in general, the Lottery won't pay for running costs. There are many hoops to jump through and many variables as to whether you are successful. For example the GCR bid for a museum building was rejected. Whether "bridge reconstruction" ticks the box is an unknown. As you may have gathered, the UK is full of heritage organisations ( it's one of the few growth industries) all clamouring for money. Many have staff employed for the sole purpose of obtaining grant funding as there are many more sources than the National Lottery. Here is a link;Am I correct that the UK Lotteries organisation won't give grants for recurrent expenses (e.g. salaries, utilities) but only for capital items such as a bridge reconstruction?
Whatever the financial backstory, this bit is surely standard wording…and the railway says that compulsory redundancies may be necessary if there are not enough expressions of interest.
It doesn’t specify what the break-down is of full-time, part-time and seasonal staff.So they have "around 75" paid employees; is that fairly typical for a large heritage railway? From my position of ignorance I would have guessed maybe half that number.
So they have "around 75" paid employees; is that fairly typical for a large heritage railway? From my position of ignorance I would have guessed maybe half that number.
In the GCR case they have large numbers of employees for their catering operations, which the railway seems to do a lot of compared to other railways.That does seem pretty high. When I used to volunteer on the Mid Hants in the 1990s (a time when they were financially struggling) I think there were only around 10 paid members of staff and at least one of them was part time.
One running the shops, three in management, one in charge of the carriage and wagon department and the rest in various roles in the locomotive department - including a boiler-smith and the manager overseeing it all. I’m pretty sure that was it as the people running the station restaurants and buffets bid for it and paid the railway.
That's true. This previous discussion of paid staff seems to suggest based on the salary bill that it might equate to half or a bit less than that number of FTEs (Full-Time Equivalents).It doesn’t specify what the break-down is of full-time, part-time and seasonal staff.
In the GCR case they have large numbers of employees for their catering operations, which the railway seems to do a lot of compared to other railways.
For comparison the SVR employs around 70, there were more prior yo Covid & their financial woes but there were of course redundancies.
In the event Roast Veg it was very difficult - because so many, small, odd parts were taken and the larger parts cannot be bought "Off the Shelf". They all needed quotations obtaining for replacement - and there are very very few places that are even prepared, or able, to quote. Then there is the difficulty of small batches of specialist material .....and replacing 70 year old parts with new.....is that like for like?
I am willing to reiterate, that, maybe the halcyon days of heritage railways are, in one sense, over.Swanage Railway has / had about 38 FTE but this was down after a number of redundancies post covid. They have been consulting about further redundancies due to their financial position.
The reality seems to be that many tourist attractions have seen a significant down turn in the number of visitors: possibly due to a combination of changing habits / tastes due to COVID and the financial position of one of the two core visitor markets (families).
Whilst the total is 103, elsewhere in the draft accts this is further explained as....It’s a matter of public record (accounts for year ending Jan 2023) that a year ago there were 103 paid staff, and the salary bill was approaching £1.7m per annum.
https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/wp-cont...l-Railway-Plc-DRAFT-Accounts-2023-UPDATED.pdf
Although I appreciate the prices that some attractions charge, the main focus in most families' minds nowadays will be how to get by in a world where the cost of living has increased out of all proportion, leaving very little to spend on luxuries such as family days out where you're almost in the realms of selling a kidney to cover the costI am willing to reiterate, that, maybe the halcyon days of heritage railways are, in one sense, over.
By this I mean that pre Covid / cost of living, the latter in particular which has affected many tourist venues, there would "always " be a steady supply of volunteers / enthusiasts / normals attending a railway which were taken as a given.
Unfortunately, the economic climate no longer supports this operating model. Hence change, radical for some, is essential just to maintain a lines operation. I would suggest a far more hard nosed financial regime, and, professionally qualified managers, not some enthusiast who has landed a "dream job" but who is very likely to let their heart rule their head when it comes to finance.
That, and the beloved gala days become few and far between unless they can be proven to generate profit after all the outgoings have been analysed. Sorry, but, for the enthusiasts, this may be a price to pay to ensure a line remains operational. They could, after all, be reinstated once financial stability returns.
Another is to concentrate on the bread and butter...normals / families, who couldn't really care what form of traction is used, as they only want a day out / ride, on heritage stock along with any scenery.
Rather more than 103 now though, those were the 2022 figures. And rather more than £1.7m.Whilst the total is 103, elsewhere in the draft accts this is further explained as....
Although I appreciate the prices that some attractions charge, the main focus in most families' minds nowadays will be how to get by in a world where the cost of living has increased out of all proportion, leaving very little to spend on luxuries such as family days out where you're almost in the realms of selling a kidney to cover the cost.
I know i am only looking at things compared t'olden days, but some of the prices charged now just make me think "no thank you". We visited our daughter at university in York at the start of the year and had a lovely weekend in a lovely city for £26.99 per night in a travelodge (free parking included) and that's where my/our disposable income goes nowadays.I am a long way away but visited England in 2022/203, Scotland in the former and Wales in the latter.
Are things really that bad?
In my country, allegedly 73 per cent who rent are suffering financial stress, compared with half of those who have a house/apartment mortgage. I assume for the third group (those who own property debt free, or own their own home debt free with an investment property or more than one with a loan, there isn't 'stress'.
What are the equivalent percentages in England?
Are things really that bad?