**Statement**

It is with a profoundly heavy heart that we share this message. Over the past two months, Pugneys Light Railway has endured three separate acts of criminal damage—each one leaving us more devastated, more exhausted, and more heartbroken than the last.

The first incident saw individuals force their way into our station hut by cutting through the steel shutters with angle grinders, smashing the windows, and stealing the safety radios we rely on to protect our visitors and volunteers. They also took essential equipment and personal belongings, leaving behind a scene that was as upsetting as it was senseless.

The second incident appeared to be an attempt to repeat the first. Although they did not manage to break in, the damage they caused to the steel covers and the exterior of the station hut was significant. The knowledge that they tried again—so soon after the first attack—was a blow in itself.

The most recent incident, occurring within the last 24 hours, has shaken us deeply. The solar panel was torn from the roof of the station hut, and the wiring deliberately cut. This single act has left us unable to charge the batteries that power our trains and keep the railway running. To see something built with love, care, and community spirit treated with such disregard is incredibly painful.

These are not isolated events. They are simply the latest in a long line of selfish actions that chip away at the heart of a small, volunteer‑run railway. Every member of our team gives their time freely. Every penny we make is reinvested into keeping the railway alive for families, children, and visitors who come to share in the joy it brings. To watch that hard work repeatedly undone is nothing short of heartbreaking.

It is with genuine sorrow that we must now announce our first fare increase in nine years. This is not a decision we ever wanted to make. It is one forced upon us by the actions of a small number of individuals who care nothing for the impact they leave behind. From **1st February**, our fares will rise to **£2.50**. We have absorbed the costs of vandalism for as long as we possibly could, but continuing to do so would put the future of Pugneys Light Railway at risk.

We hope our community understands the difficult position we are in. More than that, we hope you will continue to stand with us, support us, and help us protect the railway that so many people cherish. Your kindness, patience, and solidarity mean more now than ever.

The hope of this GoFundMe will help secure and future proof the railway