Share Prospectus extended till December 2013
The Churnet Valley Railway is bidding to create the UK’s biggest heritage railway network. We already attract 75,000 visitors each year and offer a 27-mile round trip (when running on the Cauldon branch) through fabulous Staffordshire Moorlands scenery.
Now we have exciting plans to improve facilities and expand services into Leek and as far as Stoke.
Our latest share issue is the chance to take a stake in railway expansion in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Shares cost £1 each, minimum purchase £100. As well as a range of benefits and travel concessions, shareholders may also qualify for 30% tax relief on investments over £500 under the Government’s Enterprise Investment Scheme.
Aims of the share issue
• Purchase of a shareholding in Moorland & City Railways Limited . This will facilitate a connection to the national network at Stoke, and MCR has plans for new station at Leek along with future passenger services to Alton Towers
• Construction of catering hub at Cheddleton Station, with new refreshment room and community facilities. Since the launch of the share issue in April, the Railway has raised more than £350,000 towards its £450,000 target.
As work continues to clear the track as far as Endon in 2012, the railway is receiving strong support from the community for its plans to put the village back on line. “There is real enthusiasm for the project in the Endon and Stockton Brook area, not just for the restoration of the line but also our own plans to run heritage trains to the community in 2013,” said CVR Chairman Anthony Hancock.
Download the Share Prospectus
Download the Share Application Form
About Moorland & City Railways Limited
MCR is a commercially driven company with the following objectives :-
• To create a nationally significant sustainable rail network which will include major freight, passenger and heritage running.
• To achieve large scale carbon emission reductions and general environmental benefits in its region by way of a modal transport shift for freight and passenger movement from road to rail.
• To establish substantial heavy freight flows from the Cauldon quarry and cement manufacturing operations.
• To extend its line via the Churnet Valley Railway’s line through to Alton Towers Theme Park.
• To extend its line from Leekbrook back into Leek and thereby reconnect the town and the Moorlands District in general to the national railway network at Stoke.
• To assist in the regeneration of its region by providing sustainable access to a variety of development projects in Leek, the Churnet Valley and along its route.
• To achieve income and capital growth through its share structure for all its investors.
• Also, MCR wishes to see the Churnet Valley Railway expand its operations and status in the heritage railway world and will make all its lines available for use at no charge to the Churnet Valley Railway as and when they become available.
The Benefits of the MCR Project to the Churnet Valley Railway
The MCR project, when fully completed, will have the following benefits to the Churnet Valley Railway:
• Thirty miles of running line (including the CVR’s line).
• Four different routes all available at no cost to the CVR.
• Destinations at Leek and Stoke.
• A main line connection at Stoke.
• Valuable income paid to the CVR by MCR for the use of its line in connection with running its services to Alton Towers.
• A likely doubling in visitor numbers from the present 75,000.
• The development of the CVR’s operations into one of the UK's major heritage railways with the longest running line in the country.
The CVR’s Shareholding
This shareholding will bring several corporate advantages:-
• A seat on the MCR Board in the role of Heritage Director.
• Through its shareholding, the CVR will have full knowledge and a level of influence over the development of the MCR project, particularly in relation to heritage running.
• MCR's shares are intended to have an annual return and a capital value based on its commercial activities. This will, in due course, provide the CVR with an income and the value of the shares will be reflected on the CVR's balance sheet.
New Catering Outlet at Cheddleton
To improve facilities at Cheddleton Station, the CVR, in conjunction with the NSRC, has put together an outline plan for a new "railway style" brick and timber boarded building intended to front onto platform 2. This would be in a style not dissimilar to the original wooden structure sited there in BR days. This project forms part of a larger project which will see the entire Cheddleton site refurbished. Whilst outside of this share issue, the station will be professionally cleaned, all the roof, windows and guttering will be attended to along with an internal refit. This work will run in conjunction with the installation of the recovered Leigh crossing gates, the new Cheddleton Signalbox and the relocated Hanley water column.
This new facility will provide seated catering accommodation for up to 40 people (the same as the tearoom at Froghall station), together with a purpose-designed catering kitchen to service the railways catering requirements for dining trains, and storage. Included in this building will be much needed comprehensive toilet facilities.
