The Great Central Railway has announced that they have received £515,700 from the UK Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
The grant, covering the period from April to June 2021, will support the organisation with the costs it faces as it starts to welcome back visitors and makes the transition towards full re-opening.
The Culture Recovery Fund provides financial support to thousands of businesses and organisations across the UK to help survive and recover from the effects of COVID-19.
The money obtained will go towards the costs of reopening the railway following months of closure following the full national lockdown.
The railway which runs between Loughborough and Leicester will have essential track and infrastructure maintenance work and implement COVID-19 social distancing and other safety measures.
Great Central Railway PLC’s Managing Director, Michael Gough, said: “I cannot emphasise enough how much of a shot in the arm this is for us at such an incredibly difficult time. Whilst we have successfully navigated the crisis thus far, the impact of Covid-19 has dealt the Railway a £3 million income-reduction-blow in the last 12 months, and this grant will significantly assist in the funding of actions we need to carry out to re-open Covid-secure and in-line with government guidance. It will support us in the complex process of transitioning from months of lockdown and significant restriction and to return to the previous sustainable business model of welcoming over 110,000 visitors each year through our doors.”
