Bridge that Gap: Great Central Railway News

It offers much more practical operation for access to the GCRN site, and it offers public transport access - I'd have thought that would be substantially more appealing and justifying then a clunky reversal into the GCRN. It's really not about the extra length, it's about the GGCR, something that markets itself as a heritage mainline, actually terminating at something appropriate operationally, that offers the commercial benefit of public transport access. Broadway is a prime example of a terminus that doesn't require a massive car park, and I'd have thought there would be sufficient space for something at least equal to Leicester North

 

The tram interchange was included in a local feasibility study some years ago, the proposal was for a terminus in a field some way short of the tram stop because the last bit of trackbed is now a nature reserve and SSSI. So it would be a terminus in a field and a hike across countryside to the tram stop. Personally, I am not sure there is any point in doing this. Were it possible to have an interchange right alongside the tram, then maybe, just maybe, it could be sold as a day out from Nottingham (which is a tourist destination in its own right of course). But I wouldn't ever envisage more than a simple halt there in any case.

Where this proposal is right now, I'm not sure, but it doesn't seem to be being actively pursued at the moment anyway.

As for visitors arriving by car, I agree they may be in the majority even if public transport links were improved, but they are already catered for at the heritage centre which is just off the main A60 Loughborough - Nottingham road, so no real worries there. Where a tram interchange might score though is in giving people already on the GC access to Nottingham - so you could for example get the train up from Quorn, have a couple of hours in Nottingham and get the train back again later. Not everybody likes visiting heritage centres full of vintage buses and miniature railways...

 

Conversely, as someone with a young family, the flexibility offered by public transport access to something other then 'more trains' - such as a direct 20 minute tram ride into Nottingham city centre and all it offers - is much more appealing. I very much doubt I could get my family to ride to the GCRN site, spend the day there, then ride back again.

 

If it is an SSSI and the terminus couldn't be directly alongside the tram line by the A52 (or within easy walking distance of the Ruddington Lane tram stop) then that does essentially rule it out, short of diverting into the fields either side of the cutting. There is a noticeable reduction in the viability of public transport interchange the further the distance traveled by foot

 

Long and short of it is being able to buy that farm and put a triangle in at GCR N would be extremely handy... but theres a long way to go yet...

 

I agree more on that suggestion but it would all have to be planned out after the gap is once and for all reconnected back up and then start planning the nottingham end of how ruddington fields station could be placed and mapped out on blueprint designing maybe suggestions from members of the G.C.R. of how the northen end should look in 5+ years time
Davo 56F.

 

Indeed - that southern link should be a priority (as and when the time is right), all this talk of a tram link is a WIBN but in reality is more of a white elephant.

 

Probably more likely that the tram comes to the GCR & the country park.

 

Just as good if trams can run as far as rudd fields ex G.C.R. station and thus the G.C.R. Loughborough and nottingham G.C.R. have 18 miles to the M.O.D. site now G.C.R. rudds loco works. Who are the company that run the trams called from nottingham to ruddington lane tram stop.

 

Couldn't find any other figures for current UK light rail construction at the moment (surface track) other than a price of £25 million/per route km (2015 dated study) mentioned on the Cambridge Connect website. Could be done cheaper, but prices for such things are rather more here than elsewhere in the world (also see rail electrification.......).
From an OS map, it looks like a 1.5 - 2 km or so "gap" between the NET Clifton line on the former GCR trackbed and the old Ruddington station site - so where do you get that sort of money from for a fairly unimportant add-on to the system...????
Tram extensions are more likely to be Gedling, Ilkeston and Derby/HS2 line interchange - all of which have been discussed fairly recently - rather than Ruddington.

 

Agreed. Especially when thinking about where the Clifton branch of NET goes, and how it’s been designed with park and ride in mind.


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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nottingham_Express_Transit

 

Considering the current route turns away from the Ruddington direction about two miles from the country park site, I think that's incredibly unlikely. That entire section of the Clifton branch would have to be completely rebuilt to make it happen

 

The most up-to-date mention of NET extensions I could find is this one........
https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/route-revealed-possible-tram-extensions-2693315
It does list a possible extension to serve a new development at "Clifton Pastures", which seems to be to the south of the existing Clifton estate area and due west of Ruddington Fields. Presumably that would be served by a spur off the Clifton line, rather than extending from the P&R Site terminus, so it might actually go nearer to Ruddington Fields. Wouldn't like to bet how long it takes to get built though, if ever...........

 

The tram is no more likely to go through the SSSI than the GCR is.


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Canal Bridge appeal figure up to £412K now.......
http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/2019/07/crossing-the-canal-appeal-total-reaches-412000/
Some photos of the lattice work from the bridge being restored off-site on there as well.

 

Replacement Flange.... nice.

 

SSSI's are not a total stop on activities.

The NYMR from Kingthorpe to Fen Bog is covered by SSSI's for various reasons and we still run trains and renew track.
As long as you work with the authorities and not against them.

 

Slight difference I'd think. Your tracks were there before the SSSI, the would be a 'new' line.

 

Whats the next on the G.C.R. bridge the gap project after the bridge over the canal has had its plate work repaired? Work on the new sheds or going north to railway terrace building up the new embankment at a guess anyone? I presume it would be 2020 or backend of 2019 if work starts on either of the latter 2 i wondered about and another crowd funding appeal.