Trains return to heritage railway station

Passengers can board trains at Ruddington for the first time in four years

Railway enthusiasts will be able to board historic trains at a Nottinghamshire station for the first time since the Covid pandemic.

Following the completion of railway repair work and volunteer training, the Great Central Railway (Nottingham)'s Ruddington site reopened on Friday.

A Class 08 locomotive and carriages will run hourly from the platform at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre to 50 Steps Bridge, where a planned junction to connect to the Great Central Railway line at Loughborough is set to be created.

The trains are running as part of a festival taking place on Friday and Saturday.

Organisers at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) have also confirmed repair works on a bridge from Ruddington to the main line "are steadily advancing", which when completed will allow trains to run between the heritage centre and Rushcliffe Halt.

Andy Fillingham, chairman of Great Central Railway, said having trains running at the heritage centre was a "prelude to running trains along the full length of the Great Central Railway in Nottinghamshire".

"This is a huge moment for us," he said.

"It's taken some time and a lot of effort to get to this point, so we'd like to thank everyone for their support."