- The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is one of the North East’s biggest tourist attractions with 300,000 visitors a year
- With the attraction closed because of coronavirus, the charity agreed a £2.25m Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) funding package to keep operating
- The charity has also been awarded £1.9m as part of the Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund
- Its winter service, including a Santa Reimagined event and dining trains, are now running in line with Government guidance
Britain’s most popular heritage railway, The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), has secured £2.25m of new funding through Santander UK and the Government backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).
NYMR is an award-winning educational charitable trust operating from Pickering to Whitby. It seeks to preserve and restore steam locomotives, diesels, stations and infrastructure, as well as passing on specialist skills and knowledge. Pre-coronavirus, the railway carried 300,000 visitors every year with 100 full time staff, 50 seasonal staff and a team of 500 volunteers keeping the popular attraction running smoothly.
The attraction closed during lockdowns, reopening when it was able to do so in line with Government guidance and with social distancing measures in place. The CBILS support has enabled the trust to keep operating and helped it to make changes so that it could continue welcoming visitors and diversify its services. Its Santa Reimagined event and Pullman Dining trains are continuing as planned, in line with Government guidance.
Garry Mumford, Finance Director, said: “It’s an understatement to say that this year has been challenging for us. But it’s brought out the best in so many ways. We’ve had phenomenal support from our local community, which means so much. Additionally, our relationship with Santander has strengthened immeasurably. We share a common goal, and this funding has enabled us to retain our people and keep operating with plans for the future.”
Brian McLelland, Relationship Director at Santander UK, commented: “It has been a pleasure to learn about this important historical attraction railway. I’m delighted that we have been able to support the charity through this extremely challenging period and look forward to building our relationship with Garry and the team at NYMR further over the months and years ahead.”
Santander has launched a business support programme – Survive and Revive – which aims to support businesses through the uncertainty caused by the pandemic with resources and expertise. More information on Survive and Revive, including webinars and other helpful resources is at www.santanderbreakthrough.co.uk/coronavirus.
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Notes to Editors
About NYMR
- The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is an award-winning charitable trust that carries 300,000 visitors every year. It is Britain’s most popular heritage railway and is one of the biggest visitor attractions in the North East.
- The NYMR cares for operating and developing the railway it owns from Pickering to Grosmont.
- The heritage railway operates over Network Rail from Grosmont to Whitby.
- The charity provides a high quality, safe and authentic evocation of the steam age for the public.
- The NYMR is an Educational Charitable Trust providing education for all ages. The railway is a fully accredited museum.
- NYMR has been awarded £1.9m as part of the Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation survive the financial challenges caused by the Covid-19 crisis.
For information visit https://www.nymr.co.uk/
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