Grant Funding Helps Heritage Railway Invest in Accessible Travel

The North Norfolk Railway has today announced that it has received funding of £50,000 from Airbnb’s new Best of British Fund. The Fund, launched in partnership with Visit Britain, sets aside £1 million to help support local hospitality and seeks to celebrate traditions and experiences that make British tourism unique and unforgettable. The heritage line applied for support with its upcoming project to convert an existing coach into an accessible saloon, allowing visitors with additional mobility needs to enjoy journeys into the past with facilities purpose-built to support them.  

When complete the newly-converted coach would give the line the opportunity to also welcome visitors with additional mobility needs aboard their ever-popular dining trains for the very first time. North Norfolk Railway General Manager, Graham Hukins commented “We are delighted to have received this support which will allow us to better welcome all our visitors. When these carriages were first built in the 1950s and 60s accessibility was not considered as it is nowadays, and with many specialist skills needed to complete a project such as this it would simply not be possible without external funding support. With the overall project set to cost around £250,000, grants of this nature really are invaluable. Our team are continuing to seek out other funding opportunities and we’re looking forward to being able to share this new coach with our future visitors.”

The line is one of 25 winners from across the UK and was awarded their grant under the category of “Culture & Heritage”. Other winners were drawn from “Food & Dining”, “Music & Arts” and “Nature & Outdoors”.

The North Norfolk Railway celebrated its Golden Anniversary in 2025, marking 50 years since the line first operated steam services out of Sheringham Station during the preservation era. The line now looks forward to the next 50 with a full calendar of daily services, monthly special events and a broad range of dining trains planned for 2026. More information is available via www.nnrailway.co.uk/special-events.