Coronavirus virus effect on Heritage lines Summer 2020

[swanhill41]

I believe there is concern amongst the heritage railway lines that the above may have a very damaging effect on business and therefore cashflow this summer.
Any one heard of similar whispers ?

 

[Engineer]

Yes there is concern, as people stay at home on their days off, to avoid extra person to person contact; reducing paying passenger loads. The wind of change was already blowing this last Winter, without the Corona threat. Three major lines allegedly faced finance issues, West Somerset, Bluebell and Llangollen for varying reasons. David Shepherd said many years ago preserved lines needed to be more commercial, with nice toilets and pleasant cafes, instead of lines of rusting hulks. Don't forget as well as paying passengers and donations, many workshops like at the South Devon Railway, create valuable revenue with sub contract work; staff availability this Summer may affect this aspect..

 

[daveshah]

On the other hand, I read today that UK tourism websites had seen a 40% increase in traffic (almost all domestic, not people visiting the UK) as people were avoiding planning overseas travel, so maybe that will offset things by the summer.

 

[nferguso]

It's simple. Sell, sell, sell...

 

[Edders23]

All it would take is one sensationalist fleet street headline suggesting someone caught it on a heritage train and that would kill trade but we'll see.

People seem to be avoiding going out at the moment but perhaps if this is thing is kept under control confidence will grow and things will get back to normal and with a big boost to local tourism as people avoid the foreign holidays after seeing all the ones coming back with the virus

I wouldn't want to be a cruise ship owner at the moment !!

 

[The_Train]

Are folks eligible for a refund for any tickets purchased in advance for a cancelled gala, should this happen because of the virus?

 

[Edders23]

Are folks eligible for a refund for any tickets purchased in advance for a cancelled gala, should this happen because of the virus?

I would think so under standard consumer law

 

[paul1609]

All it would take is one sensationalist fleet street headline suggesting someone caught it on a heritage train and that would kill trade but we'll see.

People seem to be avoiding going out at the moment but perhaps if this is thing is kept under control confidence will grow and things will get back to normal and with a big boost to local tourism as people avoid the foreign holidays after seeing all the ones coming back with the virus

I wouldn't want to be a cruise ship owner at the moment !!

Or a heritage railway that has loads of charters from cruise ship organisers

 

[Midnight Sun]

I own four hireboats based on the Canal du Midi. These boats are my pension, I supply the boats to the hire company who in return insure, service and handle all the hiring. I get percentage of the hire fee. Easter is the start of the hireboat season and would be fully booked. Bookings are well down on this year. The local hireboat company in March is seeing the same thing.

 

[superjohn]

Are folks eligible for a refund for any tickets purchased in advance for a cancelled gala, should this happen because of the virus?

If you mean tickets for the gala itself they would definitely get a refund if it was cancelled for any reason, not just the virus.

If you mean tickets to get to a cancelled gala, I doubt it.

 

[swanhill41]

Ref the comment about cruise ships,the Festiniog and Llangollen do a lot of business during the summer months with cruise passenger excursions through Holyhead and Liverpool I believe....Could be an issue there ?

 

[krus_aragon]

Ref the comment about cruise ships,the Festiniog and Llangollen do a lot of business during the summer months with cruise passenger excursions through Holyhead and Liverpool I believe....Could be an issue there ?

Cruise ships aren't very numerous at the Holyhead end. My impression (for the Ffestiniog) is that there are far more coming with railtours, or coaches from Llandudno (often as part of a package coach holiday).

 

[bramling]

Cruise ships aren't very numerous at the Holyhead end. My impression (for the Ffestiniog) is that there are far more coming with railtours, or coaches from Llandudno (often as part of a package coach holiday).

Some rumours circulating that elderly people may soon be advised to stay indoors as far as possible. That will have a major effect on some heritage railways.

 

[krus_aragon]

Some rumours circulating that elderly people may soon be advised to stay indoors as far as possible. That will have a major effect on some heritage railways.

We're not at that stage yet (things aren't bad enough to warrant it), and if we do, all sorts of businesses will be suffering for a few weeks. The longer term issue of "are people going to be scared away from going on cruises again" is something altogether different.

 

[Bald Rick]

Some rumours circulating that elderly people may soon be advised to stay indoors as far as possible. That will have a major effect on some heritage railways.

If they are notified of this via the internet, then they won’t know. (Taking a sample of my parents).

 

[John Luxton]

I passed my 60th birthday last October and I retired from my teaching job in December.

All I am concerned about regarding this coronavirus scare is the possible negative effects on heritage railways, museums and other heritage places where I spend my free time.

With all my extra free time the possibility of some of these places becoming a cropper because of the hysterical fuss created by so called advisors and the media is of much more concern than me actually catching the dreaded lurgy.

Be BRITISH, stop panicking, and get down to your local heritage railway, museum and historical attraction.

Only worry about it if you die and if you die you wont have anything to worry about!

My other concern is that this scare is used by the authorities to control our freedom.

John

 

[LeylandLen]

As we are all aware, we are being encouraged to wash our hands properly, so Heritage Railways would do better with proper washing facilities / toilets.Of course, people needed to run the railways ; they couldn't open if too many were off sick .

 

[mpthomson]

I passed my 60th birthday last October and I retired from my teaching job in December.

All I am concerned about regarding this coronavirus scare is the possible negative effects on heritage railways, museums and other heritage places where I spend my free time.

With all my extra free time the possibility of some of these places becoming a cropper because of the hysterical fuss created by so called advisors and the media is of much more concern than me actually catching the dreaded lurgy.

Be BRITISH, stop panicking, and get down to your local heritage railway, museum and historical attraction.

Only worry about it if you die and if you die you wont have anything to worry about!

My other concern is that this scare is used by the authorities to control our freedom.

John

It's not the authorities that are putting out scare stories, and there's no intention to 'control' our freedom. The current Chief Medical Advisor is one of the world's pre-eminent public health experts. He knows what he's talking about. You have a point about the media. Any restrictions that may or may not end up in place would be there to limit the number of cases and/or slow the spread. Once the weather warms up this virus will likely significantly reduce anyway. They're actually dealing with it fairly sensibly under the circumstances. I see various briefings and specialised guidance due to my job that are more detailed than the public ones and there's nothing therein that makes me suspect anything other than the above.

 

[Merle Haggard]

If they are notified of this via the internet, then they won’t know. (Taking a sample of my parents).

That's an interesting observation to make on the web, particularly on this site. Am I the only elderly (well, over70) person reading this?

 

[Flying Phil]

That's an interesting observation to make on the web, particularly on this site. Am I the only elderly (well, over70) person reading this?

Well I'm reading it.....but I'm only 69.....for the next three weeks....eeeek (elderly moi!) Anyway, given that approx 2,500 people die each week in the UK, I still think the virus is being "over - egged" by sections of the media and by some of the population.....However if you want to support your local line and protect yourself from the slight possibility of illness.....make a donation on line.

 

[WAO]

A few thoughts:

1. About 1 700 people die per day in the UK, with about 25 000 excess deaths in winter.
2. The average age at death of the 463 Italian victims to date is 81 years.
3. A lot of Covid-19 deaths would have therefore occurred shortly anyway. You cannot therefore add the rates together, without double counting.
4. The UK may be rotten at running railways but it has learnt from two wars how to manage real emergencies.
5. I can't book a meal on my nearby heritage railways less than 4 months in advance!

Chins up!

WAO

 

[Chris125]

Well I'm reading it.....but I'm only 69.....for the next three weeks....eeeek (elderly moi!) Anyway, given that approx 2,500 people die each week in the UK, I still think the virus is being "over - egged" by sections of the media and by some of the population.....However if you want to support your local line and protect yourself from the slight possibility of illness.....make a donation on line.

There is always an element of sensationalism, but this shouldn't be underestimated - if it spreads too quickly the number of people requiring hospital treatment at the same time risks overwhelming the system, and that must be avoided.

 

[Midnight Sun]

We're not at that stage yet (things aren't bad enough to warrant it), and if we do, all sorts of businesses will be suffering for a few weeks. The longer term issue of "are people going to be scared away from going on cruises again" is something altogether different.

There is one business that will be doing well over the next few weeks. Some people will be scared away from flying, breathing recycled air in a sealed cablin.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There is one business that will be doing well over the next few weeks. Some people will be scared away from flying, breathing recycled air in a sealed cablin.

I wouldn't be scared of flying but I would be concerned about international travel due to the risk of being stranded abroad by borders being closed or transport being stopped.

 

[Belperpete]

There is an argument that you would be better off catching the virus now, before the hospitals become overloaded........

 

[theblackwatch]

On the other hand, I read today that UK tourism websites had seen a 40% increase in traffic (almost all domestic, not people visiting the UK) as people were avoiding planning overseas travel, so maybe that will offset things by the summer.

Backing this up, I have been considering a holiday to Wales to do a few narrow gauge railways if going abroad falls into the 'too difficult' category.

 

[Bedpan]

Only worry about it if you die and if you die you wont have anything to worry about!

My other concern is that this scare is used by the authorities to control our freedom.

John

I won't be worried once I have died, but I don't relish the thought of the prior two weeks when I'm sitting there wondering whether or not it is going to spread to my lungs, and if it does, whether I will become so short of breath that I might effectively suffocate. I've only recently had cancer and I found that pretty tough mentally for quite a long time, it teaches you how vulnerable you are.

And whilst I won't have anything to worry about if I were to die, I would have if it was my wife or one of my children who was taken, and vice versa,

Doesn't mean that I won't be visiting any heritage Railways but I am being cautious - would not want to travel on a crowded train with coughing children for instance.

 

[mpthomson]

There is one business that will be doing well over the next few weeks. Some people will be scared away from flying, breathing recycled air in a sealed cablin.

Most modern aircraft have HEPA filters and would therefore be safer than most other modes of public transport.

 

[theblackwatch]

Mangapps Railway Museum has announced that it will be closed until further notice.

http://www.mangapps.co.uk/

In view of the rapidly developing Coronavirus outbreak and constantly changing official advice,
we believe that it would be irresponsible to expose our staff and visitors to unnecessary risk.
We have therefore decided to close Mangapps Railway until further notice.
This decision will be subject to constant review and we hope to re-open as soon as possible.

 

[bramling]

Backing this up, I have been considering a holiday to Wales to do a few narrow gauge railways if going abroad falls into the 'too difficult' category.

Of course any switch towards UK holidays will be made or broken by how the summer weather turns out. If people take a one-off UK holiday and find it a wash out then it will possibly be "never again".

For those of us who do UK holidays on a normal basis, we know this is always an inherent risk no matter what the forecast says!