A HERITAGE railway line has been awarded £75,000 through a Government scheme.

The Bluebell Railway, which runs between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead, has won £75,000 from the Department for Transport’s Heritage and Community Rail Tourism Innovation Competition.

The competition saw £1 million handed to 17 projects aimed at boosting rail-related tourism.

The Bluebell Railway award will go towards the restoration of Pullman Car No 54, originally built in 1923.

The work will provide disabled access so that wheelchair users can enter the carriage using a ramp into the guard’s compartment before proceeding into the dining saloon. Part of the saloon will be in a first-class seating arrangement with individual armchairs that can be removed to make way for a wheelchair.

Bluebell Railway chairman Dick Fearn said: "I am delighted that this award has been made to the Bluebell Railway to restore Pullman Car No 54 to its former glory while also making it available to all.

"The Bluebell Railway is committed to making all its heritage railway attractions fully accessible and this will in fact be the fourth accessibility conversion we have carried out on our vintage railway carriages, although this will be the first on a Pullman car.

"Our Golden Arrow Pullman Car fine dining train services are widely recognised as among the very best in the UK and we are determined to make that experience of travelling and dining in such beautiful surroundings accessible to everyone."

The Bluebell has now raised three quarters of the £490,000 estimated cost of the restoration project. Awards under the scheme were for between £25,000 and the maximum £75,000. Bluebell was pleased to learn that its application was considered as outstanding.

Rail minister Claire Perry said: "We want to show the best of British to our visitors and heritage and community railways are part of that package.

"I am delighted that the Bluebell Railway is one of the 17 winners across Britain. I look forward to seeing this scheme develop, providing another good reason to visit Sussex."

The Bluebell Railway is still looking for funding to complete the restoration. If you can help, call 01825 720800.