The Strathspey Railway has received the first contribution from an outside body towards the cost of funding its planned extension to Grantown on Spey. It has come in the form of a cheque for £5,000 from The Cairngorm Partnership and will be utilized towards funding the project design work for the replacement River Dulnain bridge.

The single span bridge for which the original stone piers remain in situ is approximately ¾ mile North of the current terminus at Broomhill and is expected to cost between £450,000/£500,000. Initial thinking was that a span could be recovered from another location and moved to the site but manufacture of a new one is now the favoured option.

The Cairngorm Partnership’s Chief Executive, Stewart Fulton, said, “The Cairngorm Partnership is pleased to be able to contribute to the further development of the Strathspey Railway in its plans to extend the line into Grantown. The steam trains are a major tourist attraction in the new Cairngorms National Park and their arrival can only benefit the town.”

Strathspey Railway director, Ron Black, said that the Company welcomed the support of the Partnership “at this early stage in the extension of the railway” and its “recognition of the role played by us in the local economy.”

The River Dulnain bridge is the first of three major civil engineering works that will have to be carried out before the railway reaches Grantown. Next along the line is the new “tunnel” under the realigned A95 followed almost immediately by the reinstatement of embankment to gain the original alignment.

Note to Editors. (1) The Cairngorm Partnership is a publicly funded Private Company, limited by guarantee. It is charged with the development of a sustainable management strategy, of which tourism is part, for the Cairngorm area. It has been the “pilot body” in advance of the formation of “The Cairngorm National Park” which will assume powers for the area later this year.

(2) Plans for the Strathspey Railway’s Grantown extension received approval form Highland Council in January.

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Press Enquiries: Strathspey Railway - Ron Black 01389-752214.  e.mail: publicity@strathspeyrailway.co.uk

                            Cairngorm Partnership – Stewart Fulton 01479-873535. e.mail: mainoffice@cairngorms.prestel.co.uk

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