The Mid Norfolk Railway has launched an emergency appeal, known as the ‘Back on Track’ Emergency Appeal to help fund the restoration of Crownthorpe Bridge and associated works to reopen the railway for train services.

The appeal is designed to raise £95,000 and will, together with money already committed by the railway, meet the costs of a staged reopening. Initially it is planned that trains will be run to Thuxton. The major work to fully reopen is at Crownthorpe bridge and associated track work and once this is done a major hurdle to fully reopening the line will be achieved. Crownthorpe bridge is near Wymondham and crosses the B1135.

Charlie Robinson, the Chairman of the MNRPT explaining the appeal, said: “Despite significant investment in the railway's infrastructure in recent years, the reality is that when the Mid Norfolk Railway started in the 1990s, it began with a railway line that had not been maintained since the 1960s.

“Significant progress in addressing this has previously been made, but the rate of deterioration is accelerating and costs for long term refurbishment have risen significantly. This means additional funding must be found just to maintain what we have. This appeal is designed to get the railway running again, as quickly as possible.

For details of how to donate and the donation packages available please visit the Mid Norfolk Railway Website donation page at www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk/donations.

The donation packages will give access to a ‘Back on Track’ Special Train that is planned to run on Saturday 13 April 2023. The ‘Back on Track’ Special will travel from Dereham, through Wymondham Abbey to Wymondham Junction, thus allowing passengers to travel a section of the line railway open to passengers. Only donors will have access to the special train.