RAIL museum bosses in York have revealed they are preparing for big cuts in funding – but rebutted suggestions they are set to scrap free entry.

Admission charges to the National Railway Museum, along with other national museums, were scrapped in 2001.

The change, which resulted in a massive upsurge in the number of visitors to the complex in Leeman Road and boosted York’s tourism, came after the Government provided extra funding to compensate for the loss of income.

A national newspaper has suggested a looming 25 per cent cut in spending for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will force a rethink on charging.

But a museum spokeswoman yesterday indicated free admission should be here to stay, saying: “We are a national museum – essentially funded by government, and this Government has reiterated its commitment to free entry.

“Our operating grant is dependent on our continuing to offer free entry.”

She stressed that the museum hoped to encourage visitors to make donations, in the knowledge that any help given would improve the experience offered.

She said the National Museum of Science & Industry (NMSI), of which the NRM is a part, accepted that in the current financial circumstances, cuts in grant aid were inevitable.

It had been preparing for six months for a range of scenarios and seeking efficiencies to minimise the impact of the cuts, and it would continue to do so.

She said the NMSI continued to strive to be the most admired in the world and exciting programmes were planned for the public in coming months.

Asked how the museum would respond to a 25 per cent cut in DCMS spending over the next four years, she said it had to await the outcome of the Government’s spending review, which would be announced on October 20, and hear how the cuts would affect organisations like it.

“We have already prepared for the three per cent cut in funding for this financial year, announced in May,” she added.