With the UK transition period coming to an end on 31st December 2020 and after the UK referendum decision in 2016 to leave the EU, the Heritage Railway Association of the UK and Ireland (HRA) has decided to resign from Fedecrail from 1st January 2021. Having been a founding member since Fedecrail’s creation in 1995, the news of its imminent departure has been received with some sadness. President, Jaap Nieweg comments:
“Recent months have seen unprecedented uncertainty and hardship for all of us when it comes to Covid-19 and I can appreciate that together with Brexit, the UK faces many challenges as it transitions to a new phase in its history. Of course, the UK is not leaving Europe, only the EU, and I sincerely hope that the UK Government is successful in achieving a trade deal with the EU before the year is up. Over many years our UK board members, officers, friends and supporters have proved invaluable in the work we do at Fedecrail and I have no doubt they will continue to do so ensuring we represent all members with the strongest voice possible when it comes to our collective goal of promoting & safeguarding Europe’s railway heritage. In the meantime, my aim is that we welcome applications from individual UK and Ireland railways and I am pleased to say that is already happening. I also hope to welcome HRA back as members in a few years’ time once the Brexit dust has settled.”