construction – RUDDINGTON.info

Railway Reunification Planning Application Submitted

13th July 202413th July 2024 Graham Wright

An ambitious railway reconnection project to allow trains from Ruddington to once again run all the way to Leicester is now another step closer to achieving its goal. The Great Central Railway (GCR) has just submitted a planning application to Charnwood Borough Council to continue with the next stages of its ‘Reunification Scheme’ for which permission is required. As regular RUDDINGTON.info readers will know, GCR has already raised millions of pounds and already finished three parts of the scheme. Once completed, the project will reconnect the two separate heritage railways currently operated…

Twixmas Roundup from our Railway

30th December 202331st December 2023 Graham Wright

With Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre now closed until 2024 (3rd January) here’s a quick progress report as we reach the end of another busy year at Ruddington’s popular railway. Firstly, Great Central Railway (Nottingham) (GCRN) reports that all the main building work on its new carriage shed here in Ruddington is now complete. Not only will this substantial new structure protect four, 1950s-built carriages from the elements and damage, but also the planned flat floor means it will be suitable for indoor events, and there is also a small workshop.…

Milestone Moment for Ruddington’s Railway

16th November 202316th November 2023 Graham Wright

Despite the less than ideal autumn weather, it’s being reported that construction of a brand new building at Ruddington’s heritage railway is proceeding well – with new roof beams recently lifted into place {top photo by Tom Ingall} and the halfway point of the fundraising target now reached. As we reported in the summer, £40,000 was awarded to the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Ltd (GCRN) ‘Carriage Shed Project’ from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). This money, combined with match funding from East Midlands Railway Trust and LNER…

Carriage Shed Takes Shape

23rd September 202323rd September 2023 Graham Wright

Volunteers at Ruddington’s heritage railway report that work has got underway on schedule to finish building the long-planned covered storage area for its vintage carriages. This will complement the existing locomotive shed and engineering works at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre on Mere Way. Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Ltd (GCRN) reveals that contractors have been onsite at building number 4, their new ‘Carriage Shed, for about two weeks now. Work completed to date includes the installation of new rear security door, marking out the position of the new steelwork and necessary work…

Cash Boost for Ruddington’s Railway

10th August 202310th August 2023 Graham Wright

The carriage shed interior as it looks now

Volunteers at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre on Mere Way have revealed one of their projects has been awarded significant grant funding by Rushcliffe Borough Council to help them complete it. The £40,000 being given to the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Ltd (GCRN) ‘Carriage Shed Project’ comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) – part of the UK Government’s ‘Levelling Up’ agenda providing funding for local investment. The money, combined with match funding from East Midlands Railway Trust and LNER (GC) Heritage Trust will allow the already…

Appeal Against Planning Refusal on The Green

23rd February 20238th March 2024 Graham Wright

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s refusal of permission to build a contemporary, new home at the heart of Ruddington’s conservation area [22/00485/FUL] is being appealed by the applicant. In March 2022 Building Design (Nottm) Ltd submitted plans to demolish the current garage belonging to 6, The Green (‘The White House’) to make way for a modern two storey house (plus attic room) to be built ‘next door’ over the current garden – filling the “gap” seen in the photograph above. You can find further details >>HERE<<. Now it seems these controversial plans may yet see…

New Ruddington Roundabouts on the Way!

9th January 20239th January 2023 Graham Wright

National Highways has revealed that the final part of a major upgrade to the A52 around Nottingham has now moved a step closer – with work to enlarge and redesign the two main roundabouts taking traffic in and out of Ruddington scheduled to begin next summer. The agency has announced it’s appointed Griffiths Farrans Joint Venture (GFJV) as the main contractor to deliver the project. GFJV will finalise the design and construct the remaining two junctions at Nottingham Knight and Wheatcroft – with its work due to start in September…

New Rail ‘Reunification’ Bridge Arrives!

23rd November 202225th November 2022 Graham Wright

Reaching the stage when trains will once again be able to run all the way from Ruddington to Leicester has got another step closer this week – with the lowering into place of a replacement Great Central Railway (GCR) bridge over the A60. As RUDDINGTON.info reported last month, this brand new structure was needed to replace the old bridge (number 326) near the Brush factory, on the outskirts of Loughborough, which was in such poor condition that the line over it needed to be closed on safety grounds back in September…

Goodbye Bridge As Rail ‘Reunification’ Gets Closer

17th October 202218th October 2022 Graham Wright

A future era when trains will once again be able to run all the way from Ruddington to Leicester has got another step nearer this month – with the removal of an unsafe railway bridge over the A60. The old bridge near the Brush factory, on the outskirts of Loughborough, has been a landmark for road users visiting the town during the last 125 years. Originally it was not anticipated having to replace this historic structure as part of Great Central Railway’s ‘Reunification’ plans – an ambitious railway reconnection project to…

Dutton’s Hill Closed Again

2nd July 20222nd July 2022 Graham Wright

Unfortunately there are several sets of highway works liable to cause inconvenience and delays for Ruddington motorists during July. These include the total closure of Dutton’s Hill again over the next two Sundays for more gas work. Although these ‘Prohibition of Driving’ notices on that section of Wilford Road should not impinge on weekday traffic this time, drivers cutting through the estate to avoid a longer diversionary route are liable to result in further frustration for home owners along St John’s Road and St Mary’s Crescent in particular. Water connection…