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NEWS FROM THE BLUEBELL RAILWAY
12 JULY 2020
Hello

This is a brief newsletter update with some important information about the next few weeks as we head towards the reopening of the Railway on Friday 7 August.

The pace is quickening as we focus our efforts on getting everything ready to welcome visitors back to the Bluebell Railway.

Please keep checking our website and social media channels for the latest information.

We hope you are as excited as we are about resuming our operations and celebrating our 60th birthday.

  • Paul Bromley, Communications Director, Bluebell Railway

Main photo: Andrew Strongitharm
Tickets To Go On Sale On Wednesday

The first tickets for our services will go on sale at 11am this Wednesday (15 July).

The initial release of tickets will cover our service trains and dining trains for the month of August.

Remember: all tickets have to be pre-booked. There will be no on-the-day tickets from any of our booking offices.

We have updated the information about what to expect when you come to the Railway in an FAQs section on our website. Please have a read because it should answer many of the questions you may have about how things will be different.
We're Good To Go

We are delighted to have been given the green tick "We're Good To Go" kitemark by Visit England.

This shows that the measures we have taken to prepare for reopening have met the required standard so that we can reassure visitors that the Bluebell Railway is a safe place to visit.

It means we have followed all the necessary Government advice on public health protection measures.

Welcome Back Message

Bluebell Railway plc chairman Chris Hunford has recorded a "welcome back" message.

The video forms part of the efforts by Experience West Sussex to bring people back to the area.

Experience West Sussex is a partnership between businesses and local authorities to promote tourism and visitor attractions.
"Ghost Trains": Provisional Dates
 
We have provisionally arranged for “ghost trains” to run on Sunday 2, Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 August departing from Sheffield Park at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 and running up the line and back.

These trains will not be carrying passengers. They are for staff to refamiliarise themselves with their duties and operations as well as for training ahead of reopening to the public. The trains will be empty other than the necessary crew and staff.

Running these "ghost trains" is an important step ahead of the formal reopening of the Railway on Friday 7 August.
People have already asked if they can photograph these trains.

We will not be arranging any formal photographic facility and we will not be able to accommodate authorised lineside photographers. All Bluebell Railway premises including car parks and stations remain out of bounds.

Anyone who wishes to photograph these trains should do so from a place of safety on public land and does so at their own risk. Please show respect to our neighbours and each other. Observe the relevant social distancing and health protection measures in place at the time.

It will be wonderful to see steam trains on the line once again.
Strathwood Book Deal

The Bluebell Railway now has a deal with Strathwood Publishing which publishes titles under the names of Strathwood books and Irwell Press books.

They are offering Bluebell Railway customers 10% discount on all books ordered through the Strathwood website and also a percentage of the book sales will come directly to the Bluebell Railway. It means customers will not only get their discount but they will also be benefiting the Railway.

The discount is live now and all customers need to do to get the discount is to put BLUEBELL (important to be all upper case) into the discount code box at the checkout.

More details in our online shop which also stocks many Strathwood publications.
 
 
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Thank you for reading our eNewsletter. It's because of our members, volunteers, visitors, and supporters that the Railway continues its success.

Please continue to support us by passing this issue on to your friends, family, and/or colleagues by forwarding using the social media links above, or encourage others to sign up for the eNewsletter  at this link . 

If you ever have a question, comment, or contribution, don't hesitate to get in touch with me at  [email protected] .

Sincerely, 
 
Paul Bromley
Communications Director
Bluebell Railway

© Bluebell Railway Preservation Society 2020