News

One of the biggest festive events in Angus will not go ahead after Caledonian Railway announced the end of the line for plans to run its popular Santa Specials.

Officials at the volunteer run Brechin attraction said they had held off making the decision for as long as possible, but were not prepared to take risks around the events, which normally bring around 6,000 people to the attraction each December.

It is the latest blow in a write-off year for the Queen’s Award winning railway after the pandemic halted its summer programme of steam and diesel services on the four mile line between the town and Bridge of Dun.

Caledonian Railway chairman Jon Gill said:  “Unfortunately both commercially, and from a risk point of view, it just wouldn’t be possible to operate safely.

“Our Santa Specials are built around close interaction with Santa , which cannot be achieved safely at the present time.”

The three weekends would normally see five trains a day packed with excited youngsters who are met by Santa as he works his way through the carriages during the train journey.

Mr Gill added: “The one thing we are planning is to be up and running at Easter and we are comfortable in our plans for next year.”