Great Central Railway being restored through Notts as ‘key bridge’ is being built

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The 'key bridge' to the restoration of the Great Central Railway is under construction (Picture: Great Central Railway)

The Great Central Railway is being restored through Notts with construction expected to be completed in Autumn later this year.

A ‘key’ 30 metre bridge is currently being built as part of the 18 mile heritage railway across the East Midlands with work on track.

After the closure of the original Great Central line by British Rail in 1969, a section of the route survived in the East Midlands.

However, when two bridges and an embankment were removed it was physically divided into two.

Both separate lines have been preserved by enthusiasts for heritage trains and the new bridge is the first key piece of infrastructure to be reinstated.

Director of Great Central Railway Phil Stanway said: “Although work has never ceased behind the scenes, the start of the next stage of ground works is pleasing to see and also proof that the bridge is happening and, although not always evident, is happening now.

“There is still a large amount to do but each stage brings us closer to a unified ‘Greater, Great Central Mainline’ and all the benefits it will bring between Ruddington Fields and Leicester North and also to the surrounding area.

“With not only the bridge but also the museum at Leicester North gathering pace, these are excited times that we are privileged to be a part of and will support in any way we can.

“I look forward to the day that I can bring my wife and children all the way from Ruddington to Leicester North by train, spend time looking around the museum and then travel back again.”

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The large piling rig

Construction of the new bridge and rail link will also give the southern half of the Great Central access to the national network.

This means excursion trains will be able to access the planned new Heritage Lottery funded rail museum to be built in Leicester.

Contractors have prepared the ground for construction work and the large piling rig has moved into place driving the first of eight piles required to support the north abutment, a structure which supports the pressure of the bridge.

Each of the piles will go down 14 metres into the ground and once it has finished, it will be loaded onto a low loader and then driven to the site of the southern bridge abutment.

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