Great Central railways to reunite for first time in decades

Road and rail from a bygone era are set to combine

Two halves of a heritage railway will be "reunified" for the first time in more than 50 years - with a special replacement bus service.

Great Central Railway first welcomed passengers between Nottingham and Leicester in 1899 as part of a wider network.

Manchester and Grimsby were connected through the East Midlands to Marylebone Station in London.

But after closing in stages, the last passenger services ran in 1969.

Two sections of the double track line were preserved by volunteers - one at Ruddington, south of Nottingham, and an eight-mile section between Loughborough and Birstall.

The modern day Great Central Railway heritage attraction continues to work towards reunifying these two sections.

'Never seen before'

And to mark 125 years since first opening, this weekend, vintage Routemaster buses will be running to give both a flavour of past glories and a glimpse of the two lines' linked-up future.

Malcolm Holmes, general manager of the Great Central Railway, said: "We're extremely excited to invite train enthusiasts and families alike.

"This is the perfect opportunity to experience our historic railways in a way that has never been seen before."

The attraction's annual open weekend takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

Diesel and steam services will be running, including guided tours of Loughborough Central Station and its loco sheds.