Great Central Railway to make cost-cutting redundancies

The Great Central Railway says engines may need to be sold

Staff at a heritage railway are being offered voluntary redundancy as it looks to cut its costs.

The Great Central Railway (GCR), which runs between Leicester and Loughborough, says it is struggling with inflated costs such as the price of coal needed to run steam engines.

GCR bosses want to save £250,000 but said there was no "crisis situation".

However, they have warned compulsory job losses may follow and trains may have to be sold off.

It has already sold a 50% share in a class 8F locomotive to the David Clarke Railway Trust, a charity that supports the attraction.

GCR bosses warned of "tough weeks" ahead

GCR general manager Malcolm Homes said the attraction was struggling with the lasting impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living squeeze on visitors.

He said: "In particular, the cost of heating and lighting our sheds, stations and cafes is a substantial unavoidable burden.

"While these costs have at least stabilised, we're forced to pay an extraordinary price for coal for our locomotives, which has soared."

GCR accounts showed the cost of coal had risen from £200 to £460 per tonne.

'Turbulent financial times'

The GCR, which has stations in Rothley and Quorn, has about 75 paid staff and some 600 volunteers who help run it.

Mr Homes added: "We continue to grow, fundraise and diversify our business so we are far more of a visitor attraction than just a train ride, but the time has come where cost-cutting can't be avoided.

"It's going to be a tough few weeks because I am so proud of our team and the hard work they have invested in the railway.

"This is absolutely not a crisis situation, but a recognition we are not immune to turbulent financial times, and we have to plan accordingly."