Double boost for Great Central
NOT only has the Great Central Railway been awarded £515,700 in the CRF’s second round to cover its restart and operating costs from April until June, but the separate Money Match March fundraising drive to Bridge the Gap at Loughborough has itself raised more than £250,000.
An anonymous benefactor offered to match all donations during March up to £100,000.
But as we closed for press, more than £150,000 had been donated by the public.
Andy Fillingham, chairman of the Friends of the Great Central Main Line, said £750,000 has now been raised towards the £3 million cost of the next two phases of the Reunification project.
This is to link the GCR to the Great Central Railway (Nottingham), which will see a local road crossed on a bridge and a viaduct built over a factory car park.
Further donations to the project are invited via the website www. gcrailway.co.uk/unify or cheques made payable to The David Clarke Railway Trust may be posted to: DCRT, Lovatt House, 3 Wharncliffe Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 1SL.
Regarding the CRF grant, GCR plc managing director Michael Gough described his delight.
He said: “I cannot emphasise enough how much of a shot in the arm this is for us at such an incredibly difficult time.
“It will support us in the complex process of transitioning from months of lockdown and significant restriction and to return to the previous sustainable business model of welcoming over 110,000 visitors each year through our doors.”