Great Central Railway - then, now and new-build hopes for a new railway along similar corridor.

https://brtarail.com/events/ For relevant meetings.

Great Central Railway - then, now and new-build hopes for a new railway along similar corridor.

South of Rugby

The GCR passed through Rugby from the South via the old Rugby Central station East of the junction of Hilmorton Road and Timber Court. While the station buildings, which were on the road that passed over the railway, have long since been demolished, the platforms are still largely intact. The closest parking to the old station belongs to the Rugby Railway club, which was originally established as a social space for workers on the railway line, and is now a private members club.

Crossing the West Coast Mainline (WCML)

The GCR did not connect with the existing Rugby Central Station and passed over the WCML, Oxford canal, and river Avon via a viaduct, which ran from the bottom of Abbey Street, to the South, to what is now Staveley way to the North. While the viaduct has been largely demolished, a section of it to the north still exists, ending in an elevated view of Rugby.

If the GCR route was to be re-railed, the viaduct would need to be rebuilt between Abbey Street and the remaining section near Staveley Way. The land under the old viaduct has largely been redeveloped as a light industrial estate (Butlers Leap).

GCR Today

The GCR route through Rugby is now a nature reserve known as the Great Central Walk. Rugby Borough Council looks after 95 acres of the reserve, which it acquired in 1970 for £5,500 (and another £5 in 1980). 

The reserve runs from The M6 in the north, via Newton Picnic Site to the Oxford Canal to the East side of Brownsover near staveley way where it stops at the part demolished viaduct. The route starts again from the Abbey Street and South Street junction, and continues on to Onley Lane to the South of Rugby.  Ramped access onto the old track bed can now be found at the old railway bridges, including the remains of the old station on Hillmorton Road.

The 4.5 mile pathway is used for walking and cycling. The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust does a lot of work to maintain this wildlife habitat and notre that many different species of rare and endangered wildlife can be seen on the walk.

North of Rugby:

Development of the Brownsover estate in the north of Rugby has lead to significant housing development adjoining the GCR route to the East side of Crowthorns road. The bridge over Newton Manor lane has also been demolished.

Re-railing the old Midland Line from Rugby Central Station north out of Rugby is an alternative option as the midland line viaduct over the Avon, Oxford canal and Leicester Road (A426) is still in place but is currently a cycle path. The midland route heads out of Rugby main line station in a north westerly direction and skirts around an industrial estate.

The main obstacle to the north of Rugby for both the GCR and Midland routes is the M6. Further north, the GCR line has been built over in part by the expansion of Lutterworth and also by the M1. The Midland Line is still largely clear west of Rugby and continuing north towards Leicester.

By Eddie Blackburn 13-10-24

See also: 

https://www.facebook.com/GreatCentralCorridorReRailing