Heritage railways across the UK are on standby to provide experienced staff to Network Rail, to fill key worker shortages expected to be caused by Covid-19 (coronavirus).
In response to a call from Network Rail, the Heritage Railways Association is contacting its operating railway members, to assess the availability of suitability skilled and qualified people. The initial requirement is for signalling staff, followed by station staff. Drivers, guards and conductors are recruited separately by the train operating companies. Like the train operating companies, Network Rail is preparing for mass absences caused by the virus.
So far there has been offers from as far across the country as Yorkshire and Oxfordshire. Heritage Railway Association Chief Executive Steve Oates said: “The proposal makes sense. Network Rail is expecting to suffer staff shortages, like many other organisations.
Will the heritage reserves need to supply their own flags and whistles? And can some of their catering teams be brought in as well to serve the coffee and cakes that are so much more wholesome on the preserved lines than in the modern franchises?