Station on track for Santa season
NEW BUILDING TO BE READY IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS TRAINS
HE new railway station in Caernarfon is taking shape – with the project on track to open by the end of the year.
Welsh Highland Railway has operated from temporary facilities in Caernarfon since the line reopened in 1997.
It replaces a temporary structure on the St Helen’s Road site and is one of the largest construction projects on a heritage or narrow gauge railway in Britain.
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway (F&WHR) engineers and contractors began work on construction the new £2.3m station in February 2017. Tempo- rary facilities have been used by the railway company for passengers travelling on trains to and from Porthmadog.
Railway officials have revealed work is nearing completion and they hope the new station will be available for the “Santa trains” that operate in December. Photographs published on the F&WHR website show workers fitting out the building, laying tarmac on the platform and preparing to relay track.
Alan Arnold, writing on the F&WHR Facebook page, said: “The building looks great, wonderful to see modern architecture on a heritage line.”
Robert Shrives added: “Looking really good and a dream come true from 1997, with two second-hand cabins and a sentry box toilet for staff. I just hope it is big enough.
“A big thanks to all involved from those who have donated, designed, built and managed this project. Blaenau Ffestiniog next? Can the same design style be used please.”
Railway enthusiasts and local residents will be able to see some of the work carried out during the Superpower event this weekend (September 14-16). The event will celebrate the 21st anniversary of the start of services between Caernarfon and Dinas, launching the rebirth of the Welsh Highland Railway.
Paul Lewin, F&WHR general manager, said: “There will be plenty of activity, including extra trains and we welcome a special visitor, ‘Lyn’ , the new locomotive from the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in Devon.
“We also hope to be able to give people a first glimpse into the new station building at Caernarfon.”
The Welsh Highland Railway originally ran from Dinas to Porthmadog until it closed in 1937.
It was reopened in stages from 1997 after a long legal battle and now runs from Caernarfon to Dinas on the trackbed of the former standard gauge line then on to Porthmadog – the full 26-mile route was completed in 2009.