Weardale Railway full steam ahead for summer services

Weardale Railway is back on track to run trains again as soon as possible, so that tourists and the local community alike can enjoy the scenic route between Wolsingham and Stanhope for the rest of the summer and beyond.

 The railway, a great tourist draw and invaluable community resource, is now controlled by a partnership of leading social enterprise ECT Group, Weardale Railway Trust, Wear Valley District Council and Durham County Council.   

Weardale Railways Ltd yesterday exited Administration, however it remains in Company Voluntary Arrangement until that process is completed.

The new partnership plans to reopen the shop and buffet at Stanhope Station for the start of the school holidays, and restart train services as soon as possible thereafter.

The railway is keen to work and develop links with local businesses and community organisations to maximise its contribution to and involvement with the local economy. 

ECT’s Chief Executive, Stephen Sears, said the Weardale Railway was exactly the kind of investment the company was looking for, with an opportunity to work in partnership with local community groups to allow an excellent service to continue.

 “At ECT we put a lot of emphasis on working with local communities, and the railway fits our plans to expand our social enterprise rail operations.  We’ve already set up a partnership in Dartmoor to run a community rail service and we see Weardale as having incredible potential to deliver regeneration opportunities.”

 Weardale Railways Managing Director Steve Raine said they planned to continue operating services at weekends throughout the winter period, including Santa Specials before Christmas, and Mince Pie specials between Christmas and New Year. 

 “We’ve also got lots of exciting plans for the 2007 season, including regular steam operation, introduction of a luxury Wine and Dine train, and provision of improved facilities at Wolsingham Station.” 

 The restructured company will benefit from the combined resources and expertise of ECT Group with a proven capability in the rail sector, the many committed volunteers of the Weardale Railway Trust, and the local authorities who have shown great commitment to ensuring the project succeeds.

 The inaugural meeting of the new Board of Directors of Weardale Railways Limited took place on Monday, 26^th June, at which all the new members of the Company were represented:  ECT Group; Weardale Railway Trust; Wear Valley District Council and Durham County Council.  The Board approved the preparation of an application to convert from a Company Limited by Guarantee to Community Interest Company status. 

 The Board also approved an outline business plan:  the first priority will be to put the company on a sound financial footing.  It will focus on developing train services with supporting commercial activities on the operational 5 mile Wolsingham-Stanhope section of the railway.  The railway will be mainly operated and maintained by volunteer members of the Weardale Railway Trust, minimising wage costs so that income can be to invested in development. 

 The railway is strongly committed to reopening back to Bishop Auckland to connect the Dale with Network Rail train services, and to maximise the heritage and leisure potential of links with the NRM “Locomotion” at Shildon and the Stockton and Darlington railway route.  The restructured company incorporates project management capability to implement this expansion.

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Editors’ Notes

 Following financial difficulties Weardale Railways was put into Administration in January 2005.  Considerable work has gone on since then to create a new structure for the company, for it to emerge from administration as a robust entity, capable of reopening the railway between Bishop Auckland and Eastgate, and playing a key role in the economic regeneration of the Upper Wear Valley. 

 Ian Green and Stephen Ellis, partners of PricewaterhouseCoopers have acted as Administrators of the Company since January 2005.  A meeting of Creditors in January 2006 approved a CVA (Company voluntary Arrangement), under which creditors will be paid a proportion of monies owed.  Today’s announcement brings the completion of this process much closer.

 ECT Group is one of the UK’s leading and most successful Social Enterprises, specialising in delivering high quality services to local communities, with over 1000 staff and a turnover of nearly £50M.  ECT provides services in Waste and Recycling, Passenger Transport, Railways and Healthcare, operating principally in London, the west country and the West Midlands.  ECT has existing rail activities with Dartmoor Railway in Devon, and the Industrial Railway Specialists RMS Locotec.

 Weardale Railway Trust is a charitable organisation formed to support the reopening of the Weardale Railway, and engage in educational and restoration activities related to the railway history of the area.  The members of the Trust will provide volunteer staff to maintain and operate the railway, and play a large part in the management of the restructured company.

 Contacts and further information:

 WRL Deputy Chairman John Hummel, Managing Director Steve Raine, and Community Liaison Director Graham Lord will be holding a press conference at Stanhope Station at 1100 Tuesday 27^th June, and will be available for interview afterwards.