Lifeline grant for Vintage Trains

The organisations, including Vintage Trains, will share the grant to help restart vital reconstruction work and maintenance on cherished heritage sites, keeping venues open and supporting those working in the sector.

Vintage Trains has also been awarded £194,800 to cover essential costs and support its plans to recommence steam-hauled express trains on Britain’s mainline railway from March 2021.

This vital funding is from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund - funded by Government and administered at arm's length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Both funds are part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, which is designed to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites, and music venues with emergency grants and loans.

“As a nation, it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post covid,” commented Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden.

Michael Whitehouse, Chairman of Vintage Trains, added: “Vintage Trains is the UK’s only charitably run and publically owned Train Operating Company and sadly we have not run a single train this year. Yet the high costs of running the business remain so this award will make a tremendous difference and is vital in enabling our plans to run steam-hauled express trains again from March 2021 – subject to the suitable easing of Covid-19 restrictions”.

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