subject to agreement with the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust. In 2020, the railway announced that they had, in association with partner organisations including Greater Anglia, Norfolk County Council, Breckland District Council and the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, bid for funding for a feasibility study into reopening the line for regular commuter services over their route. The plans to restore the line, and potentially extend it to Fakenham in time, have been backed by the George Freeman, MP for Mid-Norfolk. In June 2021, a bid was submitted to restore the Wymondham-Dereham line as part of the second round of the Restoring Your Railway fund. It was unsuccessful. A bid was re-submitted for the third round In another role within the community, the railway has become a focus point for vintage rallies and other special events. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Dereham station was used as a venue for medical testing. Awards County School station was presented with a Highly Commended certificate in the 1990 Ian Allan National Heritage Railway Awards. Hardingham station was awarded the Ian Allan Heritage Award in 2001. In 2012 the railway was awarded the Heritage Railway Association's Modern Traction Award for "its continued excellence in specialising in the operation of 1970s stock in BR 1970s livery, culminating in a significant bringing together of Nine Class 47 locomotives, approximately 10% of the surviving fleet". In December 2013 the railway was awarded the Ian Allan Heritage Railway of the Year Award 2013. In the Primary Times Family Star Awards 2019, the Mid-Norfolk Railway's Polar Express Train Ride was voted Runner Up, Seasonal Event of the Year. Accidents On 20 March 2011 a car collided with the level crossing gates at Kimberley Park station, demolishing the south gate. On Wednesday 7 September 2011 a loaded passenger train collided with a lorry on the Greens Lane un-gated level crossing in Dereham. Nobody was injured in the collision and the train was able to complete its journey after a 45-minute delay. On 30 June 2012 GWR steam locomotive 9466 collided with stabled Class 20 diesel D8069 causing damage that the MNR estimated at the time could have run to hundreds of thousands of pounds to repair. No-one was injured. On 20 December 2020, a rail vehicle being delivered by a road haulier detached from their winch rope, breaking through a level crossing gate and ending up resting on the level crossing.