Llanfair Ginny calls for public donations

Concerns over how it will meet maintenance and running costs should the Coronavirus pandemic continue into the summer has resulted in one of our favourite tourist attractions to call for donations.

The Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway was due to launch its season on April 4, but while postponing for a week, the steam railway admits that they may have to prepare for the worst with a long term closure.

“We regret that there will be no passenger trains running in the Banwy Valley for now,” they announced. “Management and volunteers at the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway have been working hard to get everything ready for the opening of our main season on April 4 and to help visitors celebrate Easter behind a steam locomotive.

“We have also built up plans for special cleaning, extra carriages to spread visitors out, limited catering and other protections for both our staff and our visitors.

“Government advice has, however, been very strong on isolation, on social distancing and on avoiding unnecessary travel. We and our volunteers support and want to implement this advice, and we have decided with great regret that the Coronavirus situation, with its effect on staff, volunteers, suppliers and other partners, makes it impossible to run a public train service at the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway for now.”

The attraction will arrange for those individuals or groups with advance bookings for trains or events over the Easter season to have their tickets honoured later when things return to normal.

But it is turning its immediate focus to having enough finance to ensure that it can stay afloat during the enforced closure.

“We don’t know when we will be able to open to the public again. Until then, we have unavoidable expenses and no operating income and any donation you can spare will help us through these difficult times.

“If you are in a position to help us, the easiest way to give is on our donations website at https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/9557#!/DonationDetails.

“If you are able to make a really generous donation, a cheque to the Railway, payable to W&LLR Preservation Co. Ltd, and posted to the railway at the Station, Llanfair Caereinion SY21 0SF, will be cheaper to process. By either route, if you are a UK Income Tax payer, ticking the Gift Aid box will add 25% to the donation we receive.”

Anyone with questions about bookings, or to request a refund if they prefer, is invited to contact the office on info@wllr.org.uk or on 01938 810441.