FRESH BID TO REOPEN LINE
Society regroups and holds new talks with Network Rail:
RAILWAY enthusiasts are set to launch another attempt at reopening a disused railway line in Snowdonia.
The Trawsfynydd Railway Company lost their Network Rail licence to clear the seven-mile track between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Trawsfynydd after damage was caused to a bridge last August.
An investigation by Network Rail found serious breaches to health, safety and environmental legislation and revoked the licence, ordering the company to remove equipment off the line.
The line was last used in the late 1990s by freight trains to carry nuclear fuel to the now closed power station at Trawsfynydd.
Since its closure, tourist facilities have been created at the lake including bike trails, boat hire and a café.
There were fears the revocation of the licence meant the end of the project but The Blaenau Ffestiniog and Trawsfynydd Railway Society, which had linked up with the Trawsfynydd Railway Company to reopen the line, has regrouped and hopes to revive the project.
Society officials have held preliminary discussions with Network Rail about a new contract which could lead to trains running again on the line.
These discussions will be outlined at the society’s Annual General Meeting, which is expected to be held in the next few weeks.
Society secretary Rob Bradley said: “With a new steering committee established, the society expects soon to be able to ask its members to approve a new management committee.
“Then we can start the huge task of getting all the legal agreements and safety and environmental systems in place to start again on the task of refurbishing the line, eventually to offer local residents and visitors a heritage visitor centre and train services on the line.
“We plan to ask residents and councils affected by the line for their input at every stage. Things will be quiet whilst this consultation and the setting up of systems and agreements takes place.
“Once work can begin, activity and visiting volunteers should start to bring money into the local economy.”
Mr Bradley added train services will be planned to serve residents and to feed additional visitors to existing attractions in Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Trawsfynydd Railway Company director Colin Dale, who launched the project in 2009, has been critical of Network Rail’s decision to evict his company from the line.
Mr Dale claimed plans to build six new stations and halts had been drawn up and start-up capital of £1.5m secured for infrastructure.
He added: “Everything was in place. Experts with many years in railway operations. Start up capital of £1.5 million for the infrastructure. All the culmination of five/six years of planning and many other exciting projects allied to this one.”
Companies House have announced their intention to strike the Trawsfynydd Railway Company off the Register of Companies for failing to file documents.