NENE Valley Railway (NVR) a much-loved tourist attraction in the heart of North West Cambridgeshire constituency has received a grant of £669,873 from the government's Cultural Investment Fund.
Overseen by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the fund provides organisations with extra resources to improve access to the arts and support local economic growth through cultural initiatives.
Tracy Spring, assistant general manager at NVR, told us the grant will enable completion of urgent maintenance and infrastructure work including the replacement of track and components in three areas around Wansford station, the hub of this highly-acclaimed museum. This essential work will include excavation and relaying of drainage channels in Wansford tunnel and replacement of both track and roadway at the Wansford level crossing where a temporary 10mph speed restriction remains in place for safety reasons.
The total project cost of £750,000 will be met by the grant plus NVR partnership funding of £81,000 from membership donations and additional fundraising. Welcoming the grant, Tracy said: "While it is a truism that without track there can be no trains, we feel this explains concisely how and why this project is vital to the railway's future."
Shailesh Vara, constituency MP who has visited the railway many times, said this was great news for the railway and for the volunteers who continue to preserve and promote our local railway heritage. "Due to the pandemic, recent years have been very difficult for charities and cultural organisations and I am delighted the government has dedicated funds to protect significant sites of this kind for the benefit of communities here and across the country," he added.
Nene Valley Railway has been used extensively as a film and television location, helping to raise the profile of Cambridgeshire around the world. To find out more about the railway and its extensive programme of events and activities, please visit the NVR website
