
It’s been a long time coming, but the main 2020 season for a number of Britain’s heritage railways and attractions is springing into action following the gradual easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Therefore, we thought we’d bring you a list in alphabetical order of which venues are operating and when they’re set to recommence.
Note however, that pre-booking is required for travel on many heritage lines – please check beforehand. This page will be updated as further railways and museums confirm their operating plans.
Railways & museums
- Apedale Valley Light Railway. August 1. More at: https://avlr.org.uk/
- Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society. Tours of Scunthorpe Steelworks system recommenced on June 27. Pre-booking essential. More at: www.afrps.co.uk
- Beamish Museum: July 23. More details at: www.beamish.org.uk
- Bluebell Railway: August 7. More details at: www.bluebell-railway.com
- Churnet Valley Railway: August 1. More details at: www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
- Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway: July 4. More details at: ww.cclr.co.uk
- Crich Tramway Village: July 11. More details at: www.tramway.co.uk
- Dartmouth Steam Railway: July 6. More details at: www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk
- Dean Forest Railway: August 1. More details at: https://deanforestrailway.co.uk
- Devon Railway Centre: July 15. More details at: https://devonrailwaycentre.co.uk
- Didcot Railway Centre: July 4. More details at: https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/
- East Anglian Railway Museum: July 18. More details at: www.earm.co.uk
- East Somerset Railway: July 18. More details at https://eastsomersetrailway.com
- Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: July 25. More details at: www.e-v-r.com
- Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway: July 25. More details at: www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk
- Epping Ongar Railway: August 1. More details at: www.eorailway.co.uk
- Evesham Vale Light Railway: July 4. More details at: www.evlr.co.uk
- Ferry Meadows Railway: July 4. More details at: www.ferrymeadowsrailway.co.uk
- Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway: August 15. More details at: www.gwsr.com
- Great Central Railway: July 24. More details at: www.gcrailway.co.uk
- Great Laxey Mine Railway: July 4. More details at: www.laxeyminerailway.im
- Groudle Glen Railway: July 5. More details at: www.ggr.org.uk
- Isle of Wight Steam Railway: July 12. More details at: https://iwsteamrailway.co.uk
- Keighley & Worth Valley Railway: August 19. More details at: https://kwvr.co.uk/
- Kent & East Sussex Railway: July 18. More details at: https://kesr.org.uk/
- Kirklees Light Railway: July 11. More details at: www.kirkleeslightrailway.com
- Lappa Valley Railway: July 4. More details at: www.lappavalley.co.uk
- Mid-Hants Railway: July 11. More details at: www.watercressline.co.uk
- Middleton Railway: August 2. More details at: www.middletonrailway.org.uk
- Moors Valley Railway: July 4. More details at: www.facebook.com/moorsvalleyrailway
- Northampton & Lamport Railway: August 2. More details at: www.nlr.org.uk
- North Norfolk Railway: July 8. More details at: www.nnrailway.co.uk . Read our story North Norfolk Railway announces return to service

- North Yorkshire Moors Railway: August 1. More details at: www.nymr.co.uk
- Nene Valley Railway: July 25. More details at: www.nvr.org.uk
- Perrygrove Railway: July 4. More details at: www.perrygrove.co.uk
- Railworld: July 4. More details at: www.railworld.net
- Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway: July 4. More details at: www.rhdr.org.uk
- Ruislip Lido Railway: July 4. More details at: www.ruisliplidorailway.org
- Rudyard Lake Steam Railway. More details at: www.rlsr.org
- Seaton Tramway: July 4. More details at: www.tram.co.uk
- Severn Valley Railway: August 1. More details at: www.svr.co.uk . Read our story Severn Valley Railway announces reopening from early August
- Snowdon Mountain Railway: July 10. More details at: https://snowdonrailway.co.uk
- Statfold Barn Railway: July 4. More details at: https://statfoldbarnrailway.co.uk/
- Swanage Railway: July 11. More details at: www.swanagerailway.co.uk . Read our story Swanage Railway to reopen with social-distancing measures
- Tanfield Railway: August 30. More details at: www.tanfield-railway.co.uk
- Wells & Walsingham Light Railway: July 4. More details at: www.wwlr.co.uk
- West Somerset Railway: July 25/26 and August 1/2. ‘Living Museum’ event at Minehead station. Details at www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/news/detail/wsr-announce-two-living-museum-weekends-on-the-railway
Lines that won’t be reopening in 2020
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About the Author
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