GCR ‘dissociates’ itself from GCR – N

GREAT CENTRAL Railway plc, the Loughborough-based organisation fundraising £3m for the ‘bridging the gap’ reunification project to re-connect the Loughborough and Ruddington (Nottingham) railways, has officially dissociated itself from the northern operation saying it must act in its own best interests.

In a strongly worded press statement headlined ‘Great Central Railway – not associated with Nottingham namesakes!’ it says the Loughborough-based company “wishes it to be known it has absolutely no operational, legal or commercial association with the Nottinghamshire namesakes…” It was prompted by reports that Great Central Railway – Nottingham, previously called Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, is not restarting activities until Easter 2021.

In the statement GCR plc Managing Director Michael Gough said: “It is highly frustrating that, to the casual observer, we end up being linked by some people with GCR – Nottingham. We share part of our name and that is it – there is no other company or commercial link whatsoever.

“When we are heavily promoting our Santa Express and Winter Wonderlights trains, any perceived link with the Nottingham organisation ends up being very confusing and counterproductive. While we sympathise with the plights of any railway, we must act in our own best interests and will be working hard… and taking steps to protect our trademark and ensure there is no confusion.”

The GCR plc trademarked ‘Great Central Railway’ in 2015 and it is one of only six standard gauge lines to be trademarked. The others are: The Battlefield Line, Foxfield Railway, Middleton Railway, Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (based at Radstock) and the Spa Valley Railway.