This project is proposing to link the NNR to the MNR's eventual terminus at Fakenham, largely using the M&GN trackbed via Melton Constable. This, together with Railtrack lines, would ultimately create a "Norfolk Orbital Railway" encompassing Sheringham, Melton Constable, Fakenham, Dereham, Wymondham, Norwich, Wroxham, North Walsham and Cromer. This circuit would also feed into Railtrack routes to London and the Midlands.
The Orbital Railway concept is designed to allow multiple journey options and owes its name to the Chairman of the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust who coined it in one of the early discussions. It assumes the restoration of the NNR link to Railtrack at Sheringham and a serviceable engineering and environmental solution to the problem of taking the railway through Holt, where a by-pass has taken part of the original trackbed, and of providing a central station for the town.
The Holt, Melton Constable and Fakenham Railway Company (as the line is known) is unlikely to run trains itself. Instead the line would host Anglia Railways, MNR, NNR and EWS services.
In a seperate, but related, move the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway has restated its intention to extend to Fakenham to meet up with the proposed orbital railway. This would mean that passengers could once again travel from Norwich to Wells-On-Sea, although there would be a change of trains (and gauges) at Fakenham.
Despite the rather annoying lack of updates on the web site, assurances have been given that there is a lot of "behind the scenes" work going on. Further details can be obtained from the company.
The Holt, Melton Constable and Fakenham Railway Company, The Railway Institute, Melton Constable, Norfolk NR24 2DA
Holt, Melton Constable and Fakenham Railway Company Web Site