Bosses at the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) said they have already received £73,000 in donations since launching their 'resilience fund' this spring. Watch more of our videos on Shots! and live on Freeview channel 276 In May, the cash-strapped heritage line wound down its survival fund, which it launched in 2023 when it faced a financial crisis that “threatened its very existence”. It had raised more than £400,000 but bosses replaced the fundraising initiative with a new resilience fund, aimed at providing longer-term support for the struggling railway.
And the response from the public has “exceeded our expectations” managing director, Gus Dunster has said. He added: “We’re hugely grateful to everyone who’s responded, and it’s heartening to see that they clearly understand the sheer expense of running a heritage railway like the Severn Valley. “We want to keep highlighting how much we’ll need ongoing support.
The SVR requires a steady stream of funding and will need it for some time. This isn’t about making a big splash or hitting a target. It’s about bolstering our resilience for the long haul.
” The SVR Resilience Fund is being led by the Severn Valley Railway Company Limited, the volunteer-run member of the SVR family. SVR Company chair Diane Malyon paid tribute to volunteers for the work they’re doing to promote the appeal. She said: “We’ve seen so much engagement from our volunteers in terms of highlighting the appeal to our visitors at eve.