Gloucestershire railway repair work to begin (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Gloucestershire railway repair work to begin

9:00am Saturday 4th February 2012 in News By Ian Craig

WORK is set to begin on a £670,000 project to repair a collapsed embankment on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

Part of the embankment at Winchcombe collapsed in January 2011, severing the railway in two.

Since then, the organisation running the railway has raised £500,00 towards the repairs, but still needs at least £170,000 to complete the work.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway plc chairman Malcolm Temple said he was delighted the organisation was able to begin work on the embankment.

“It has been a long struggle but I am overwhelmed by the generosity of local people, railway enthusiasts and the heritage railway movement as a whole,” he said.

“With the benefit of modern technology, we believe that the problems that have dogged the railway for almost a century can be overcome for good.”

He also thanked everyone who had donated to the appeal.

“Many railways and railway organisations have organised events in aid of the appeal, or made donations and we are honestly humbled by their recognition of our difficulties,” he said.

“It’s clear that at times of difficulty other railways do what they can to help.

“This extraordinary generosity won’t be forgotten.”

The work is expected to take around four months to complete.