Grand Reopening of Croxteth Park Miniature Railway

THE beloved Croxteth Park Miniature Railway is set to make a triumphant return! Tickets are now available for the official reopening on:- Sunday, 9 June 2024. After months of dedicated effort, the ride will open to the public at:- 11:30 am, promising a delightful experience for all.

The restoration of this cherished 7˝ Miniature Railway has been a true community endeavour, spearheaded by local resident Kevin Brown, Liverpool City Council, Croxteth Hall and Park, and a committed team of volunteers.

To celebrate the grand reopening, a special launch party will take place at:- 10:30 am, featuring the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress as the first passengers aboard the revived railway. The winner of the naming competition will be revealed, and the new engine will proudly display the freshly engraved name plate.

"We are so proud to announce the highly anticipated and cherished Croxteth Park Miniature Railway will officially open on Sunday, 9 June 2024. To celebrate this exciting occasion, we have planned several sessions throughout June 2024." said Kevin Brown

Originally built in 1981 and operational until 2009, the miniature railway has been lovingly restored to its former glory. It operates along its original route, complete with Diesel Locomotives and occasional Steam locomotives for special events. The train journey begins at Croxteth Hall Halt Station, winds through the scenic grounds of Croxteth Park, and traverses the historic tunnel before returning to the station.

This restoration project has been a labour of love for Kevin Brown and his team of volunteers. They have diligently worked to clear the track, unearth the rails, and restore 90% of the original track. Their efforts ensure that the miniature railway will once again create cherished memories for families throughout Liverpool.

Join us for this momentous occasion as we bring the miniature railway back to life, rekindling old memories and creating new ones for generations to come. Boarding Location:- Path leading to Croxteth Hall, after the bridge.

Families encouraged to travel by train to join in with the National Gallery's Bicentenary celebrations

AVANTI West Coast has partnered with the National Gallery as part of their Bicentenary celebrations creating an opportunity to see famous paintings away from their London home.

With the School holidays here, the intercity operator is promoting the institution's:- 'National Treasures by Rail' campaign which has seen 12 works of art temporarily relocated to art galleries around the UK, with 3 on the Avanti network.

Ikon Gallery in Birmingham is displaying Artemisia Gentileschi's:- 'Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria'; The Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool is exhibiting:- 'The Rokeby Venus' and Vermeer's:- 'A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal' is on display at the National in Edinburgh.

The campaign is a key part of the National Gallery's Bicentenary celebrations where the loaned artworks will be celebrated with individual events at each of the 12 galleries. Some of these activities will be available during the Half Term School Holidays, giving families an opportunity for a fun day out by train.

For the duration of:- 'National Treasures,' 35 million people; more than half the UK population; will be within an hour's journey of a National Gallery masterpiece​. Avanti West Coast, an official travel partner for the campaign, is encouraging people to travel by train to the exhibitions on its network, with a range of cost-effective tickets including:- Advance single fares and its Superfare ticket for those with greater flexibility.

Sarah Copley, Commercial Director at Avanti West Coast, said:- "We are proud to play a part in supporting the National Gallery with this fantastic campaign which will bring these masterpieces to cities around the UK. With the School holidays upon us, this is the perfect time to travel by train to be inspired by these paintings, as well as join in with all the creative events which will be run by each gallery."

Alexandra Kavanagh, Head of National Touring at the National Gallery, London, said:- "The National Treasures project aims to put more people than ever before in easy distance of great paintings from the National Gallery, and what better way to visit the National Treasures than by rail. We are delighted to be partnering with Avanti West Coast to promote the exhibitions in Birmingham, Liverpool and Edinburgh, bringing art to where people are and giving them another reason to visit their local museums."