News from the GCR
All the latest updates from the Great Central Railway
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It’s time to build again!
- Reunification
We’re ready to get building again with your help. In 2026 we want to get more of the Reunification project in place. The ambitious scheme will rebuild 500 metres of missing railway, which will relink two halves of the heritage line, creating an eighteen mile rail corridor through Leicestershire and...
What’s with the blue mushrooms?
- Reunification
The ground investigation machines might have gone but there’s still more activity to come on the Reunification route. The team left behind 17 boreholes which have each been capped with a blue pipe. They are spread over the 500 metres between the existing embankment in the north and at the...
New Book Release – Great Central Electric
- General
We’re delighted to share news of a brand-new publication by Mark Beckett, Director of the Great Central Railway. Great Central Electric is a fascinating “what if” story that reimagines the Great Central Main Line between Sheffield Victoria and London Marylebone – exploring what might have happened if the route had...
Loving Leicester North
- General, News
We’ve got a new appeal to show our southern terminus – and the team who look after it – some love, with a spruce up. Leicester North is almost 35 years old. We’ve added the building and the canopy since then but we really want to give it up a...
Swapmeet Raffle Winners Announced
- General
The results of the special raffle held on the 40th Anniversary Quorn Swapmeet are as follows; Ticket No FIRST PRIZE Two First Class Dining Tickets 345 SECOND PRIZE Afternoon Tea for Two at Butler-Henderson Cafe 348 THIRD PRIZE Footplate Ride (Steam or Diesel) 57 FOURTH PRIZE Family Explorer Ticket 454...
Celebrating Long Service at the GCR
- General
At this year’s staff Summer Party, we were proud to launch the Great Central Railway’s new Long Service Awards – a way of recognising the incredible dedication and commitment shown by our volunteers and staff. The GCR simply wouldn’t be what it is today without the countless hours given by...
Welcome Tim Dunn!
- Reunification
Celebrity railway historian and passionate heritage enthusiast has given his backing to Reunification. He spent two days in Leicestershire discovering the epic project, watching ground investigation work underway and enjoying the unique atmosphere of the GCR stations. Three parts of Reunification are completed, planning consent has been granted to continue...
Ground investigation work underway
- Reunification
Contractors are on the site of the Great Central Railway’s ambitious Reunification project carrying out three weeks of work, to assess ground conditions. Fresh from the granting of planning consent which will allow the line to go ahead with the work, contractors moved onto site for the ground investigation programme....
Planning permission granted!
- Reunification
We’ve just taken an incredible step forward. We have planning permission! We are clear to go ahead and build every remaining piece of Reunification – the urban viaduct, the railway terrace bridge, the Preci Spark car park crossing and the upgrade of the old embankment on the north side of...
Computer graphic magic
- Reunification
Ready to experience Reunification already? While we wait for planning consent and the construction teams, these new computer images will allow you to see how the whole project comes together. From the north of the canal bridge to the A60 road bridge, the whole 500 metre link line is shown...