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Beer Festival – Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th September 2023

Join us at all of our stations for an amazing selection of Real Ales and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, travel between stations by train for a true Rail Ale Experience!

 

Beers and Ciders:

We have more than 100 Beers and Ciders available across our stations and trains.  Click the image for the complete list

Locations:

Loughborough Central Station:

Thur 12:00-22:00, Fri/Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-17:00

A selection of 30 beers, plus ciders in a marquee at the north end of Loughborough Station platform.

Quorn & Woodhouse Station:

Thur 12:00-22:00, Fri/Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-17:00

A selection of  30-35 beers, plus ciders, soft drinks and lagers will be available in the Tin Shed at Quorn.

Rothley Station:

Thur CLOSED, Fri/Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-17:00

There will be at least 6 different beers available from a Wagon in the Carriage and Wagon Shed, plus a selection of ciders too!

Leicester North Station:

Thur CLOSED, Fri 11:00-18:00, Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-17:00

Our southerly most station will be the host to 4 beers and 2 ciders in the ticket office.

Travelling between locations:

Thursday 7th September

No train services operate.

A 'Heritage Bus' will provide a FREE shuttle between Loughborough EMR Station, Loughborough Central and Quorn and Woodhouse Stations - full details on Thursday's timetable below.

 

Friday 8th September, Saturday 9th September

A train service will be in operation all day with normal fares in operation, plus a special £10.00 evening fare from 1730, to allow you to start your ale trail from any of our stations and visit all four stations to sample the beers during the evening.

Sunday 10th September

A train service will be in operation all day with normal fares in operation.

Timetables:

Please note that the 1300 departure from Loughborough on Saturday and Sunday only conveys very limited passenger accommodation.

Saturday evening: Please note that for operational reasons, the 19:50 departure from Loughborough Central will now depart 5 minutes earlier than advertised at 19:45. All other timings are unaffected.

Fares:

Standard Fares from 1st November 2022.

Our best value "off peak" day fares from Loughborough Central are shown below. Similar fares are applicable from our other stations.

   £ Adult Child
Day runabout  (see Notes 1 & 2) £22.00 £12.00
FoGCML / Privilege Runabout £14.00 £8.00
Beer Festival Evening Ticket - valid on services that depart from Leicester North or Loughborough Stations from 1730 onwards £10.00 N/A
Family runabout (1A + 3C)   (see Notes 1 & 2) £36.00
Family runabout (2A + 3C)   (see Notes 1 & 2) £48.00

1. Day returns to Leicester at £20 adults (no senior concession) and children £11 are available after 2.30 pm. These tickets can be used as runabouts, without restriction.

2. After 2.30pm, family tickets may be sold at the reduced price of £42 (Two adults and up the three children) and £31 (One adult and up to three children).

3. Registered disabled visitors are charged at the day return to Leicester rate (£20 adults and £11 Children); these tickets can be used as runabouts without time restriction. An accompanying registered carer is offered a free complimentary fare.

4. Friends of Great Central Main Line members are entitled (upon production of current valid membership card) to reduced Privilege runabout fares of £14 (£8 child).

5. Members of the Rail Riders club receive a £2 total discount for individual members, £5 total discount for family on Off Peak, Day Runabout tickets.

6. The above fares structure may be suspended for special events.

7. Children's fares apply to those aged 16 or under; children under age 3 travel free (except at certain special events).

8. Dogs, cycles and large items of luggage are a flat fare of £3.

9. Students (on production of a valid NUS card) may travel at the £20 day return to Leicester rate; these tickets can be used as runabouts without time restriction.

10. For visitors with Heritage Railway Association 'Privilege' passes, free travel is applicable (on production of a valid 'Privilege' membership card); this applies also to one person accompanying the pass holder where the pass indicates 'Two person card'.  This concession will NOT apply for certain special event days.

11. Our standard adult runabout fare (valid on all advertised services with standard class accommodation, except reservation only services (including Santa trains)) is £56 - this is valid for use on one day only during the 31 days from date of issue.

For fares for Group Bookings please contact the Booking Office on 01509 632 323

For a full list of our conditions of carriage, click here

While every effort will be made to maintain services, we do not guarantee that trains will arrive/ depart at the times stated. We reserve the right to alter or suspend any train or attraction without notice. No liability for any loss, inconvenience or delay can be accepted.
All railway locomotives release, on occasions, oily deposits into the atmosphere, including cinders from steam locos. We regret that we cannot take responsibility for damage to visitors’ clothing, vehicles or other personal belongings caused by these occurrences.

Our next running day

This Weekend

Two steam locomotives and a heritage Diesel Railcar are operating this weekend.

This Weekend

Our appeals




Reunification appeal - Reuniting the two halves of the Great Central Railway

Special Events

This is a selection of our special events, to see the full list, click here

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