THE FUTURE is looking bright for West Somerset Railway after it was saved from the 'precipice of potential insolvency'.

More than 300 supporters of the WSR attended a three-hour meeting at Taunton's Oake Manor Golf Club on Saturday, March 2.

Jonathan Jones-Pratt, chairman of the WSR PLC, spoke openly about the 'tough and painful' decisions the railway had faced, but he is now looking forward to a bright future now the 'difficulties and squabbles' of the past few years have been resolved.

He said: “It was heartening to see so many committed railway staff, volunteers and supporters at the packed and professionally-run meeting.

“Over the last six months, we have had to take some very tough and painful decisions to safeguard the railway’s future after a significant £500,000 funding gap became obvious, and also in the light of various recommendations made by the Office of Rail & Road (ORR) regulators following an inspection in October 2018.

“We have had to cut rapidly our costs and staffing, quickly sell some of our assets such as unrestored steam loco No. 4110, introduce new safety, training, competence and operating systems, totally overhaul our finances, and invest in and improve our infrastructure significantly at a considerable cost of £140,000, with even more spending on it needed every year from now on just to stand still.

“But I was very pleased to tell everyone present that the WSR has been pulled back from the precipice of potential insolvency by our firm and decisive actions so far, and we can now face the 2019 season, and our 40th anniversary of running to Bishops Lydeard, with much more confidence and a much brighter future too.

"We will all now put the difficulties and squabbles of the past few years firmly behind us and move forward as one railway acting in unison.”

Meeting attendees were keen to dip into their pockets, offering up £3,250 towards work on the GWR locomotive 9351, and further sums for infrastructure on the line.

Another £6,200 was raised in new plc shares showing solid support from existing shareholders that were at the meeting, plus another £1,000 promised by email.

Following the ORR inspection, the WSR decided to extend its winter closure period in order to carry out the 'essential' works.

A phased reopening will now take place. Services will partly reopen on Saturday, March 30, after a follow-up inspection by the ORR, with the rest expected to open by April 6.

Mr Jones-Pratt added: Jonathan Jones Pratt continued: “After we decided to extend the usual winter shut down period from January this year to carry out essential infrastructure works, the West Somerset Railway is now expected to re-open partially again on Saturday 30 March after a follow up inspection by the ORR in late March.

“So, our steam services will run initially from Bishops Lydeard to Williton, with a Diesel unit shuttle to and from Watchet so we reach the seaside, but the full line should re-open to Minehead on Saturday 6 April following completion of major track works at Blue Anchor which have proven to be more extensive than first thought sadly.

“I know this the phased reopening will disappoint everyone at the Minehead end of the line, especially those in the local accommodation, retail and catering sectors, who have been looking forward to our steam trains returning, but we will be running to and from Minehead in good time for Easter, and our teams are working very hard to get everything ready in time.”