MP launches fresh start for Ruddington

THE LAUNCH of a £5m ‘Forward Fund’, to re-open the Great Central Railway north of Loughborough and provide new visitor facilities has been launched by local MP Ruth Edwards.

Owner of the trackbed north from Loughborough to Ruddington and the associated Heritage Centre, the East Midlands Railway Trust (EMRT), urgently needs to raise £1m to repair two bridges, whose poor condition stopped trains running on the ninemile section 18 months ago. Operator, Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Ltd, which had collected revenue from gypsum trains to Rushcliffe Halt, and run heritage steam and diesel services from Ruddington to Rushcliffe Halt, has not been able to fund the necessary repairs.

In 2019 the worsening condition of steel bridge No. 326 over the A60 road outside the Brush Works in Loughborough, saw GCR(N) forced to suspend the running of freight trains - its main revenue earner –from the national network.

Also, Bridge 302, just north of Rushcliffe Halt and used as part of the run-round for gypsum trains and trains from Ruddington, needs repairs before it can be used again.