GCR Bridge Project

[reddragon]

Re-opening a half rebuilt disused railway along its original abandoned corridor with the full support of all around is never going to be refused, at worst challenged & conditions added.

 

[AndrewE]

I think the Bala Lake thought similarly about their extension, but it got rejected.

but wasn't that on a technicality that the extra visitors might cause the sewage works to put extra phosphorus into the river? Everybody else wants it, but the water company have a veto because they don't want to invest...
I suspect this is another application which will be passed just as soon as WW have been leant on, or bunged some money for the sewage works upgrade.
It's amazing that improvements to the tourist offering which have been in development for a decade or more get stopped because the owner of one bit of the infrastructure hasn't been paying attention...

 

[Belperpete]

but wasn't that on a technicality that the extra visitors might cause the sewage works to put extra phosphorus into the river? Everybody else wants it, but the water company have a veto because they don't want to invest...
I suspect this is another application which will be passed just as soon as WW have been leant on, or bunged some money for the sewage works upgrade.
It's amazing that improvements to the tourist offering which have been in development for a decade or more get stopped because the owner of one bit of the infrastructure hasn't been paying attention...

It was, but it meant that all the money spent on the application was lost. As you say, virtually everyone, including the local council was in favour. I don't think that the Bala Lake are in a position to lean on WW to ignore a statutory requirement, less still have the kind of money to bung at them for an upgrade to the sewage treatment works.

I raised the case as an example that just because everyone wants it, you can't take planning approval for granted.

 

[50002Superb]

Re-opening a half rebuilt disused railway along its original abandoned corridor with the full support of all around is never going to be refused, at worst challenged & conditions added.

You say full support. Is that true? Has there ever been any opposition to it from residents or businesses? I recall some years back some issues with residents at Loughborough

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jul 2024 ==

For the record. I absolutely 100% want this to happen and fully behind it. I just mused what would happen to the cash if it didn’t happen

 

[AndyY1951]

I have just submitted my Comments in support of the planning application, I urge everyone (assuming you agree with Reunification!) on here to do the same.

Do it today, the deadline is the 7th.

Andy

 

[Flying Phil]

Good reminder Andy - I sent mine earlier.

 

[m79900]

Just to clear something up, when complete, will northbound trains have to reverse into Rudington, or will there be a new curve or a new station?

 

[nineteenninety]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2024 ==

Just to clear something up, when complete, will northbound trains have to reverse into Rudington, or will there be a new curve or a new station?

It'll still be reversing at 50 steps.

Edited to attach quote.

 

[trebor79]

Well that's going to rather ruin the "main line intercity route" schtik.

 

[eyebrook1961]

Well that's going to rather ruin the "main line intercity route" schtik.

Well, the "intercity" bit would never have been accurate. "Not Nottingham to Not Leicester" isn't really a catchy phrase to attract visitors.

 

[trebor79]

Well, the "intercity" bit would never have been accurate. "Not Nottingham to Not Leicester" isn't really a catchy phrase to attract visitors.

Wasn't being technically within the city of Leicester one of the trains the southern terminus was built a few hundred yards south of the Belgrave and Birstall station site?

 

[duffield]

Well, the "intercity" bit would never have been accurate. "Not Nottingham to Not Leicester" isn't really a catchy phrase to attract visitors.

The Ruddington site is served by normal Nottingham *City* Transport buses so as far as I'm concerned, it's in the City of Nottingham - for public transport purposes (even though it's not actually within the city boundary).

 

[Flying Phil]

I believe it is still the aspiration to build a curve (chord) line so that trains will be able to go straight into the Ruddington station - eventually.

 

[Spartacus]

Well, the "intercity" bit would never have been accurate. "Not Nottingham to Not Leicester" isn't really a catchy phrase to attract visitors.

About right for much of the GCR originally then

Shame they couldn't have some Irish stock, such reversals were once very common there.

 

[Flying Phil]

A test train (DMU two coach 107) has been run the length of the GCR(N). There will be Santa style weekend services between Ruddington and Rushcliffe Halt. So the North is getting back into operation!
The Planning Application Consultation period finishes on 9th December for the Urban Viaduct and Factory Flyover sections.

 

[AndrewE]

It'll still be reversing at 50 steps

Shame they couldn't have some Irish stock, such reversals were once very common there.

which was my reaction too... I well remember a journey changing at Limerick Junction when it seemed that every train had to reverse into the platform if it was to call there!

It was the only time in my life that I have ever seen manual shunting - 5 or 6 blokes pushing a BG out of a siding onto the back of a train! I was surprised that they hadn't packed that particular siding up so that vehicles could roll out - or kept a horse!

 

[Flying Phil]

There is a new GCR video about the current state of the Reunification project (I'm sure somebody can put a link in, my IT skills are rubbish!). There is £2.4M in the Build fund and they expect to do some test bore holes in the next few months with construction of the Urban Viaduct starting around the Summer - if the planning process is successful.

 

[bspahh]

There is a new GCR video about the current state of the Reunification project (I'm sure somebody can put a link in, my IT skills are rubbish!).

0:00
it's been a big year of progress for the
0:02
Great Central railway's epic
0:04
reunification project let's round it all
0:07
up and look ahead it's reunification 24
0:13
wrapped December 23 on the new a60
0:17
bridge the two halves of the line signed
0:19
an agreement preparing us to be
0:22
reconnected and that includes some joint
0:24
events and a vintage bus link between
0:27
them there'll be more of that in 2025
0:30
in March we announced a major decision
0:33
we are going to move the locomotive shed
0:35
at lufra Double track will run from lfra
0:38
Central Station to the Canal Bridge
0:41
behind the existing
0:43
shed that meant just a month later we
0:46
could publish our final concept design
0:50
the urban Viaduct which will carry our
0:52
trains over a distance of 300 M between
0:56
the two Railways then after a huge
0:58
amount of fundraising and hard work we
1:01
were able to submit our planning
1:03
application you pitched in with hundreds
1:05
of supporting comments thank you more on
1:08
the planning application in a moment
1:11
September Key Bridge repairs and track
1:14
upgrades begin along the entire length
1:17
of the Great Central Railway in
1:19
Nottinghamshire by the end of the year...

 

[DerekC]

Thanks - very useful update.

 

[Flying Phil]

Thanks bspahh for the link - let's hope that many people watch it and text a donation. 2025 should be a great time to see the GCR going Forward.

 

[yorkie]

Good news; planning permission has been granted:

Full steam ahead for GCR reunification project

Managers of the heritage line say they are now 'masters of our own destiny'

www.leicestermercury.co.uk

Charnwood Borough Council (CBC) has granted planning permission for the GCR scheme which will see 500 metres of new line built to bring the two halves together. The reunification project has already seen three parts reconstructed using donations from well-wishers around the world. This final piece of the puzzle needed planning consent, which was granted by CBC after an eleven-month process...

...Work will now resume on site. A team is due to carry out a ground investigation survey in the next few weeks to support final design work - this contract will cost close to £250,000, with the railway encouraging further donations. More information, including how to donate, can be found on the GCR website.

 

[fgwrich]

Some fantastic news from the Great Central Railway - Planning Permission has been granted!

Great Central Reunification.

Planning permission granted!
June 2025.

​

We've just taken an incredible step forward. We have planning permission!

We are clear to go ahead and build every remaining piece of Reunification - the urban viaduct, the railway terrace bridge, the Preci Spark car park crossing and the upgrade of the old embankment on the north side of the Midland Main Line.

It's been 11 months since our initial application but we'd like to thank Charnwood Borough Council for carefully considering our plans and you, for your supportive comments. It has been a major effort led by our volunteer project manager Larry Greenwell and our planning consultant Bob Woollard.

So what next? Well in the coming weeks we'll be carrying out ground investigation work along the route. We'll be drilling some deep holes - and what we find in them will shape our final plans. The work is going to cost £250,000. We've let the contract and to fund it, we'll have to delve into the funds we've banked for construction work.

We could really do with your help to keep our building fund topped up, so please consider a donation. Everything will help. After all, the more our funds are protected. The more we have, the sooner we can be get building again and the further we can go.


Thank you for all your support. Together we're creating an 18 mile living history of the railways a reality. https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/unify/?...nFpFYgFvWTMJRznKKQ_aem_iVYtSTArayTpkZ6xb7Y6zw

 

[zwk500]

Fantastic news! How much funding remains outstanding?

 

[duffield]

Excellent news, I wonder if any actual works (beyond the ground investigations) will commence by the end of this year?

 

[Zomboid]

Excellent news, I wonder if any actual works (beyond the ground investigations) will commence by the end of this year?

Unlikely, if they need the ground investigation to complete the design I don't see any concrete being poured within 6 months. Even if it's just a matter that they find what they expected to and can use whatever designs were based on that assumption there's still tendering to be done on that basis and contacts to agree, and then the selected contractor has to mobilise...

I'd be surprised if they weren't able to start actually building in 2026, though.

 

[50002Superb]

This is phenomenal news, well done to all concerned.

 

[JKF]

Looking forward to seeing the baby deltic chug over this bridge in a few years!

 

[DJ_K666]

Unlikely, if they need the ground investigation to complete the design I don't see any concrete being poured within 6 months. Even if it's just a matter that they find what they expected to and can use whatever designs were based on that assumption there's still tendering to be done on that basis and contacts to agree, and then the selected contractor has to mobilise...

I'd be surprised if they weren't able to start actually building in 2026, though.

Absolutely, however it means they can get on with it and do these investigations and design work. Once the money's been raised, obviously.
AIUI they have to drill down about 50 to 60 feet to see where the bedrock is, what's underneath it, where the water table is and what other groundwater is there. It'll have a bearing on where the pilings are, what type to use and what type of concrete to use. It all takes time. Then as you say, at least 6 months to get the contracts let and contractors working.

 

[plugwash]

I believe it is still the aspiration to build a curve (chord) line so that trains will be able to go straight into the Ruddington station - eventually.

It looks like it would require acquiring land off the horse farm and potentially creating an occupation crossing so the horse farm could use the space inside the triangle..