The Mid Norfolk Railway holds special importance to so many from our part of Norfolk, and beyond. It brings so much joy to so many, and we’re lucky to have such a wonderful, local tourist asset right here in our part of Norfolk.

That’s why I have always been a strong advocate of the MNR, visiting regularly over the years and doing my upmost to offer support, and why I am now taking the opportunity to highlight the ‘Back on Track’ Emergency Appeal being held as a result of track deterioration at the Crownthorpe bridge.

Having initially planned to reopen for 2023 on March 4th, a recent inspection revealed that the Crownthorpe bridge section of the railway line had deteriorated so much that is unusable. Despite the tireless work of MNR supporters and volunteers to provide significant investment in and improvement to the railway’s infrastructure, the reality is that, when the MNR began in the 1990s, it inherited a railway line that had not been maintained since the 1960s. As a result, even now, constant work is needed to keep the MNR ‘on track’.

The ’Back On Track’ Emergency Appeal aims to raise £95,000 that, when combined with the funds already raised by the MNR, will hopefully allow the railway to reopen on a staged basis from the summer.

Full details can be found on the MNR’s website here, including how donations can be made.

If YOU value this fantastic local asset, please do take the time to find out more about the campaign, as well as how you may be able to offer support – even if you cannot make a donation.

I am committed to offering what support I can to the MNR through this difficult period and very much hope to be able to see it fully reopened again as soon as possible – able to provide joy, education and entertainment for many generations to come.

To find out more about my historic work supporting the MNR, please do scroll through my past webstories on my ‘Upgrading the Norwich-Cambridge Railway Line’ campaign page here.