Full steam ahead as Leighton Buzzard Railway sets reopening date after six-month closure due to pandemic

An enhanced service will operate on both that date and Sunday, September 20, with trains running on every Sunday up until November 1 as well as Saturdays October 10 and 31, along with Tuesday and Wednesday October 27 and 28 for half term.

Extra measure have been put in place to ensure customer safety, including a reduction in the number of passengers per train to comply with social distancing advice.

Measures include:

> Encouraging all visitors to pre-book tickets online to allow us to manage numbers – walk-up tickets will be very limited due to the reduction in passenger capacity

> Adding partitions within carriages to create compartments. Only one family group or ‘bubble’ will be permitted per compartment

> Complying with government advice on the wearing of face masks on trains and enclosed areas

> Limiting entry into the enclosed booking office to one adult per group – other adults and accompanied children will be directed around the side of the building by volunteers

> Closing enclosed areas, including the craft shop and enclosed museum display areas as well as the Engine Shed Show on most operating days

> Extra cleaning of the trains in between journeys

> Special arrangements in the Buzzrail Café to permit social distancing

The railway’s chairman, Terry Bendall, said: ‘I would like to thank all our customers and supporters for their patience, as well as our volunteers who have worked hard to get us to the point where we are able to safely reopen.

"We look forward to once again welcoming passengers to the railway and look forward to another enjoyable, if shortened, running season.’

All planned special events at the railway for September, October and November have been cancelled. Santa will be still be visiting in December and an announcement about the Santa Specials will be made later in the autumn.

Full details of the railway’s operating days, the timetable, and the new measures and procedures can be found at http://www.buzzrail.uk