IT'S 'good to go' for the Swanage Railway which will start running a special fundraising train service from this weekend.

Supporting the heritage railway’s survival plan – and running alongside its £360,000 ‘Save Our Service’ donation appeal – the socially distanced re-opening comes as the Government permits Covid-19 secure tourist attractions to operate.

The railway has been awarded ‘Good to Go’ certification by the Visit England tourism body for demonstrating that it has met the required level of compliance preparations and precautions ahead of re-opening.

The special train, hauled by a ex-British Railways Southern Region Class 33 diesel-electric locomotive, will be operating every day from Saturday, July 11, through to Friday, July 31, 2020.

Passengers will board at Swanage only and the train will take them up to Norden and back to Swanage, a journey time of 45-minutes (including a 15-minute stop at Norden). Passengers won't be able to board or disembark at any other station along the route. Trains will leave Swanage at 10.30am, 12noon, 1.30pm and 3pm.

Swanage Railway Trust chairman Gavin Johns said: “We have undertaken a full risk assessment, using Government guidance, that has enabled us to prepare for services that are safe for passengers and staff with trains being cleaned after every journey.

“Trains will be regularly cleaned and surfaces wiped while also being sanitised with a long-lasting spray proven to kill the virus. Seating on trains will be limited to ensure that social distancing can be maintained.

“All passengers and staff on trains will be required – unless exempt for health reasons – to wear face coverings. All seats will be pre-booked in blocks of four to prevent overcrowding and ensure that social distancing can be maintained.

“Any blocks of seats made available for purchase on the day at Swanage station will have to be paid for by contactless card methods while the movement of the public at the station will be managed to ensure that social distancing is maintained."

To protect the health of passengers and staff, there will be no toilets on the trains but the toilets will be open at Swanage station.

In addition to bays of four seats, each train will have four compartments – each seating six people – and four window seats for two people, all available for purchase in advance via the Swanage Railway’s website. There will also be a wheelchair space on each train.

Test trains are running along the route this week ahead of the public being welcomed back to the line.