) and Network Rail’s Breckland Line.Mid-Norfolk Railway submitted a proposal to the Department for Transport Restoring Your Railway Fund, seeking funding in order to progress its business case. The submission was unsuccessful.The Mid-Norfolk Railway was established as a multi-functional line, with an intention to operate a community service in addition to tourist and freight services. The railway has also stated their belief that a commuter service between Dereham and Norwich remains a viable proposition, with the MNR either running the service themselves or working with an existing train operator. One obstacle on the MNR to running such services is the requirement to operate five manual gated level crossings between Dereham and Wymondham, although level crossing automation is a possibility in the future.
Source: Mid-Norfolk Railway – Wikipedia
Mid-Norfolk Railway route map | Source: Wikipedia (view).
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Mid-Norfolk Railway: current stations
Wymondham Abbey
Kimberley Park
Hardingham (no public access)
Thuxton
Yaxham
Dereham
Proposed extension to Fakenham
Beyond Dereham the Mid-Norfolk Railway track extends through North Elmham, where the former station building is in private ownership, to County School station, owned by Norfolk County Council.
Mid-Norfolk Railway has ambitions to extend its heritage services from Dereham to County School and onwards to Fakenham via Ryburgh, where the station has been demolished. The site has been bought and repurposed by Crisp Malt.
Land for a new formation between County School and Fakenham is being acquired by Melton Constable Trust, the promoter of the Norfolk Orbital Railway.
Norfolk Orbital Railway – Reopen entry
Melton Constable Trust has acquired land close to the site of the former Fakenham West station and now owns the formation south of the former Fakenham East station across the course of the Midland and Great Northern Junction (bridge 1715) as far as the ’three brick arches’ (bridge 1714) over the River Wensum.
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Further reading
Beeching Reversal – Reopening Wymondham-Dereham line, on The Anonymous Widower website
Dereham railway station – Wikipedia
Mid-Norfolk Railway – official website
Mid-Norfolk Railway – Wikipedia
Norfolk Orbital Railway – official website
Norfolk Orbital Railway – Reopen entry