Huge heritage rail scheme showcased at event

Work is under way to try and rejoin the two sections of the Great Central Railway

Two halves of a heritage railway are being brought to life at a special event.

The Great Central Railway (GCR) aims to reconnect Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to create an 18-mile (29-km) stretch of railway.

Railway bosses said the event will showcase "one of the biggest projects in rail preservation" including computer animations of how the lines from Loughborough to Ruddington will be linked.

Malcolm Holmes, general manager at GCR, said the weekend was a chance to celebrate the achievements of the multi-million pound reunification project and to let people know their next steps.

An artist's impression of the new urban viaduct section

GCR first welcomed passengers between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire in 1899 as part of a wider network but the last passenger services closed in 1969.

Key parts of the scheme, including rebuilding three major bridges, have been completed.

Plans for more work to reunite the tracks, which will include a new viaduct, were submitted in July.

At the event on Saturday and Sunday, visitors can take a guided tour of the track-bed and experience a vintage rail replacement bus service linking the missing track.

Mr Holmes added: "Work is already underway to rebuild the short section of railway, but this special weekend will give everyone a taste of that exciting future right now."