Bridge that Gap: Great Central Railway News

Goodness me there’s a lot of speculation about something that might or might not theoretically happen at some point in the future. I’m sure that it’s possible for the different organisations to work together, either in partnership or ultimately by merging if that’s what the memberships want. Of more immediate benefit is practical and financial support to repair the A60 bridge or to support the Bridging The Gap campaign!

 

Theres been an plethora of attempts by various neighbours against various steam railways all across the UK over the last 30 years. To the best of my knowledge all have failed, including Charnwood Borough Council who suffered complaints when the line was extended to Leicester North in the 90's. No matter how many housewives had their washing spoilt on a saturday afternoon, the legislation has somehow stood.

 

True, I'd forgotten about the CAA 1993. though this legislation was primarily introduced towards mainline rail and diesel emissions. I'm unsure if theres ever really been a notable court case over it, and it's detailed in the recent DEFRA review as being particularly poor to apply. The incoming Environment Act 2020 will bring further controls particularly with regard to particulate emissions and air quality. There was a DEFRA consultation paper which highlighted the potential to end Section 1 of the CAA 1993 and return to solely nuisance controls.

 

I see that there has been a grant of £50,000 to the "Gap" fund from a charitable trust in December.

 

Bridging the Gap.

 

So it appears the GCR have upset the North, without their co operation the whole connection project is pointless?

The Green Bridge Folly over the MML.......

 

I wrote the above seven years ago. I don't think much has changed in that time. The Loughborough lot are going to have to have a big change of attitude if it is going to happen.

 

Everyone (individuals and organisations) who has donated towards bridging the gap should be demanding clarification. If the answers are not entirely satisfactory, the next stage should be for those who have donated via the David Clarke Railway Trust to make formal complaints to the Charity Commission that their donations are not being used for the advertised purpose.

 

I am pleased to see that my donations to the DCRT have been used to have a new bridge built over the MML and the refurbishment of the canal bridge. I look forward to seeing bridges/arches being built over the Precispark car park in the (hopefully) near future.
It will be a long and expensive process, there will be difficulties........but the "Gap" will be bridged ......and trains will run between Leicester (North) and Nottingham(Rudd).

 

Theres been an plethora of attempts by various neighbours against various steam railways all across the UK over the last 30 years. To the best of my knowledge all have failed, including Charnwood Borough Council who suffered complaints when the line was extended to Leicester North in the 90's. No matter how many housewives had their washing spoilt on a saturday afternoon, the legislation has somehow stood.

You have overlooked the Longmoor Military Railway at Liss. David Shepard no less stated that the reason for the failure was hostility by the local residents.

Julian

 

Bridging the gap.

 

Is that an official statement from the Great Central Railway Plc, or a personal opinion?

 

I personally would treat any postings from someone who joined this site a few days ago and then posts controversial things as being subject to confirmation from Official sources......


EDIT - Appears he has removed his own postings now.........

 

That is an exerpt from an email to volunteers where, at the start of the communication, it said, and I quote "These emails are confidential and for GCRN Volunteers only and
must not be shared externally". So can I ask why you have decided to share this with those who are not GCRN Volunteers in direct contravention of that instruction?

 

Since @DCSA only joined the forum on Saturday, and has restricted access to his/her profile page, I doubt you will get a good answer to that question.

 

Very quiet in Somerset at this time of year ...

Tom

 

There was a small flurry of activity there, following the latest instance of a communication from the WSR PLC hastily amended, but otherwise it seems that the GCRs (plural) are taking over as the location for "Oh what a lovely war"; so far a war of words, but it's getting "interesting".

 

They are not the only person on this thread who seems to partake in the "light blue touchpaper and retire" mode of posting though....

 

What new management? Can you provided details of who these people are and what positions they hold? I doubt it the, MD has been a director for three years and the chairman 12 years.
Both the supporting charities are right behind unification, the EMRT actually own all the infrastructure from the MML to Ruddington.
What you should be asking is how are the GCRN getting on in sorting out the issues raised by ORR, what are the findings of the A6 bridge inspection and what needs doing to it to allow rail traffic to resume?

 

This was all set off by a communication from the GCR(S) management that went on a lot about connection to the main line and not about trains running the full length of the combined railway. If they do really intend to run through trains on a regular basis (when it becomes possible), whether by collaboration between two still-separate organisations or under the auspices of a new merged organisation, they only need to say so. If they don't issue such a statement, the obvious conclusion is the one that some people on this thread are making.