BOSSES at the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) have confirmed services have again hit the buffers for the second national lockdown.

All services on the heritage line, from Bury Bolton Street to Heywood and Rawtenstall, via Ramsbottom, have ceased for now.

This is to comply with the new coronavirus regulations - just weeks after steam and diesel routes resumed.

Timetables have been halted until December 2 and the two railway pubs, The Trackside at Bury and Buffer Stops at Rawtenstall, have also been closed.

Rail chiefs say passengers who have booked tickets for ELR’s Santa Specials in late November and early December will be contacted to rearrange their bookings to a later date if they wish.

Mike Kelly, ELR chairman, said: “It has been great to welcome back passengers and guests to our stations these past few months and it’s with a heavy heart that we must now take action to pause our operations for the moment."

Rail chiefs also say remaining services in December will see capacity reduced to ensure social distancing measures are met, as well as new processes including NHS Track and Trace and temperature testing for all visitors. A one-way system will be operational at stations, alongside an enhanced cleaning and hygiene regimes.

The services should resume, depending on further government announcements, on December 5, and should be daily from December 21 to 24.

The last lockdown say ELR launch a well-backed railway support fund and the heritage line later received a significant government grant to keep it going.