Network Rail awards Railway Heritage Trust funding to 2019

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Network Rail press release:

Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust can announce today that Network Rail has decided to continue its sponsorship of the Trust at its present level until 31 March 2019.

The Trust was formed in 1985, and gives grants to restore listed buildings and structures on the national railway network. British Rail, Railtrack and now Network Rail have sponsored the Trust throughout its life, as has BRB^‡(resolve) (Residuary) Ltd. Network Rail^s present level of financial sponsorship is ^2m a year, and it also provides accommodation and support services to the Trust.

In its quarter century of life the Trust has awarded 1,214 grants, worth some ^39m. These grants have attracted some ^46m of additional funding.

David Higgins, chief executive of Network Rail said: "Network Rail has a proud duty as steward of Britain's railway history. The Railway Heritage Trust provides invaluable help in giving us real focus to our efforts to maintain and improve our historic estate. Rail matters to people and value-for-money is vital in providing those improvements that matter to rail users. The Trust supports that work and acts as a critical friend helping us to make better decisions."

Andy Savage, executive director of the Railway Heritage Trust, said: ^The Trust has always valued its support from the rail industry, and we are most grateful to David Higgins and to Network Rail for continuing this support by the agreement to fund it until 2019.^

Notes to Editors:

The Railway Heritage Trust is a company limited by guarantee, which aims to encourage the conservation and enhancement of railway buildings and structures which are listed or scheduled and are of special architectural or historic interest, and; act as a catalyst between outside parties and owners in the conservation and alternative use of non-operational property, including the possible transfer of responsibility to local trusts or other interested organisations.

The Trust awards grants to a value of some ^2m a year to achieve these objectives.

RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST
40 Melton Street
LONDON
NW1 2EE
Phone: 020 7557 8598
Fax: 020 7557 9700
Email: rht@railwayheritagetrust.co.uk
www.railwayheritagetrust.co.uk