GCR launches £200k ‘money match’ scheme for link bridges
MONEY DONATED IN MARCH WILL BE MATCHED BY A DONOR, POUND FOR POUND, UP TO £100K
ANDY FILLINGHAM, CHAIRMAN, FRIENDS OF THE GREAT CENTRAL MAIN LINE
THE GREAT Central Railway has unveiled updated plans for its Reunification project, which aims to link two halves of the line.
Two of the seven phases of the multimillion-pound scheme have already been completed, including building a new bridge over the Midland Main Line at Loughborough and refurbishing an original 1890s GCR structure which crosses the Grand Union Canal.
The railway has said it will build the next two stages of the scheme simultaneously to save money. These include a new bridge over a road and then a new concrete viaduct over a Loughborough factory car park. Civil Engineering company Cass Hayward has been engaged to guide the GCR through the process and has produced the new designs which the railway has dubbed the ‘Factory Flyover’.
According to Andy Fillingham, chairman of the Friends of the Great Central Main Line, the membership organisation leading the fundraising charge: “These plans should achieve a triple win. They’re expected to be slightly cheaper and easier to build, not to mention simpler to maintain in the long run.”
The planned 200ft of new formation will also use a reclaimed bridge deck donated by
Network Rail from the remodelling of
Reading station a decade ago.
Fillingham continued: “The
Cass Hayward plan means we can draw up accurate costings for the
Factory Flyover and continue our work towards a planning application. We’ve estimated it will cost £3 million and with the incredible support of so many people, including the readers of Steam Railway, we’ve now reached half a million pounds and the total is climbing all the time. However, much as we want to, we can’t get back to building until we have most of the money in hand.”
The railway has also announced a money match drive which could potentially boost its fundraising by another £200,000. During March, money donated by the public will be matched by a donor, pound for pound, up to £100,000. “It’s an incredibly exciting offer,” continued Fillingham. “It’s the good news we all need. Whatever you can give, we can make your donation count even more. Please help us seize this opportunity!”