FUNDING BOOST FOR GROUDLE GLEN RAILWAY IN ANNIVERSARY YEAR
A much-loved Island attraction has received a timely boost from Manx Lottery Trust.
Groudle Glen Railway celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2021 and, to mark the occasion, the charity is rebuilding and improving its main station at Lhen Coan. The project will not only facilitate much-needed station maintenance, but also enhance safety, increase the longevity of the railway, improve flow of passengers and help support future income and fundraising efforts.
The venture comprises four main phases which includes repaving the platform area, installing new trackwork throughout the station, constructing a new shop and ticket office and paving between the tracks under the station canopy. Manx Lottery Trust has awarded £16,450 towards the project which will be used to fund sleepers, base plates and clips.
Alex Brindley from Groudle Glen Railway said: ‘This year marks a truly special milestone and we are excited to commemorate our 125th anniversary. This grant very generously supported the purchase of new sleepers produced from recycled plastic which have a significantly longer lifespan than the pandrol baseplates.
‘We were keen to dedicate our time to a meaningful project to mark the occasion, which will ensure longevity of the railway for years to come. We believe the improvement of Lhen Coan is just that and we are excited to move forward with this project. Thank you to Manx Lottery Trust for its generous support of our charity.’
Sarah Kelly, Chairman of Manx Lottery Trust, added: ‘This year marks a significant milestone for Groudle Glen Railway and we are pleased to support the re-development of Lhen Coan Station. The local attraction is popular with Islanders and visitors alike and it is great to see it go from strength-to-strength.’
This grant was from the Manx Lottery Trust’s Community Awards Programme. Information on current funding programmes and application forms can be found at www.mlt.org.im/grant-programme.
