Local restrictions delay arrival of East Lancashire Railway

After reviewing the new rules for Greater Manchester, and with staff, volunteer and passenger safety as a priority, ELR has made the difficult decision to delay the restart of passenger trains for one week.

The ELR’s two pubs, The Trackside at Bury Bolton Street Station and Buffer Stops at Rawtenstall, are both still open to the public, with the new guidance that only individuals from the same household or in bubbles can visit together.

Mike Kelly, ELR chairman said: “It’s with great sadness that we’ve had to make the decision to temporarily pause our reopening plans for this weekend.

“We were very much looking forward to welcoming passengers back to travel on the railway but in the interest of safety and ensuring we comply with all regulations we’ve decided to postpone until next weekend when we have clearer guidance from the Government.

“I understand how disappointing this will be for many and I want to thank everyone for their continued patience and support. I hope to see you all again very soon.”

Passengers who have pre-booked tickets for this weekend will be contacted directly to arrange for their reservation to be transferred to an alternative date when the railway reopens.

ELR will review its position again next week and another update will be provided on future plans pending any further Government guidance or changes to restrictions.