The Nottingham side of the Great Central Railway — working together with our Leicestershire partners to reunite the line
We are the Nottingham side of the Great Central Railway. Along with our partners at GCR in Leicestershire, we're working on the most exciting railway project in UK preservation – reconnecting the two halves of the historic Great Central Railway.
Here at GCRN, we operate the northern section from Ruddington. Our partner, GCR, operates the southern section in Leicestershire. Between us lies just 500 metres of missing track — and that's what we're rebuilding together.
By reconnecting these two sections, we'll create an eighteen-mile heritage line that will power the East Midlands tourism economy and be a national showcase for Britain's railway story.
This is happening! Together with GCR, we have planning consent and key structures already in place — including the Midland Main Line bridge and the Grand Union Canal bridge. In 2026 we hope to push forward the next sections — with your help.
Here at GCRN, we're based at Ruddington Fields Station in Nottinghamshire. We run heritage steam and diesel trains on the northern section of the historic Great Central Railway. Our partners at GCR operate the southern section in Leicestershire from Loughborough.
When the original Great Central Railway was closed in the 1960s, 500 metres of track connecting our two sections was destroyed. To reunite the railway, we need to rebuild bridges and embankments and relay track at Loughborough — a multimillion-pound undertaking that is now well underway.
Working alongside GCR, we've already raised and spent millions of pounds on key infrastructure — including the new bridge spanning all four tracks of the Midland Main Line and the refurbishment of the Grand Union Canal bridge. This partnership approach means all donations — whether given to GCRN or GCR — go into the same reunification fund.
It's a great social enterprise — connecting communities across the East Midlands and providing camaraderie for thousands of volunteers on both sides of the gap.
All fundraising for reunification goes into the same pot — whether you donate through us or through GCR, every pound goes directly towards rebuilding the missing 500 metres and reuniting the two railways.
It's easy to donate. You can make a one-off donation online, set up a regular monthly contribution, or donate by text. Just a few pounds every month soon adds up to a generous gift, and regular income gives other potential funders confidence in our plans.
Thank you. Every pound matters and makes a difference. Together — GCRN, GCR, and supporters like you — we're making reunification happen.
Donate today and help us complete the final stages of this once-in-a-generation project. Whether you give £5 by text or set up a monthly donation, every contribution brings the reunification of the Great Central Railway one step closer.
For the full story of the project, detailed engineering progress and more ways to get involved, visit the GCR reunification project page.
For text donation terms see: platform.nationalfundingscheme.org/terms-and-conditions
