Senedd considers coal shortage threat to future of heritage railways

THE future of heritage railways in Wales was due to be discussed at the Senedd yesterday amid a coal shortage crisis.

Organised by Dwyfor Meirionnydd MS Mabon ap Gwynfor, the meeting was designed as an opportunity for representatives of Heritage Railways across Wales to explain the difficulties facing the sector to Senedd members.

There are more than 15 heritage railways across Wales carrying over 1.7m passengers a year and directly employing in excess of 500 staff.

But railways right across the UK are facing a bleak future as stocks of bituminous coal – the type needed by steam engines – are running low.

As reported recently in the Herald, heritage railways in Wales are limited to rapidly dwindling supplies from the Ffos y Fran mine, near Merthyr Tydfil, which is being wound down after its closure was announced in January 2021.

Imports of this coal have been hit by the invasion of Ukraine with Siberia in Russia and the Donbas region in Ukraine key exporters. It has also seen the global prices spike.

The Welsh Heritage Railways, which include Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland railways and Bala Lake Light Railway, is now seeking low-emissions coal so that the little trains of Wales, which play a significant role in the economy, can continue in the future.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr ap Gwynfor said: “I’m looking forward to meeting with Steve Oates from the Heritage Railway Association tomorrow and giving the heritage railway sector a platform to share their concerns with other MSs.

“All of us, including this sector, wish to see more done to tackle the climate emergency and burn less fossil fuels.

“However, steam engines run on steam coal.

“If we wish to see this sector continue in the future, and we wish to celebrate our great Welsh heritage, we must make suitable low-emissions bituminous lump coal available to Heritage Railways.“

“Every other sector and mode of transport has a transitional period in order for society to transition from fossil fuel to a more renewable source of fuel.

“But this isn’t the case with the Heritage Rail sector.

“They’ve not had an opportunity to properly develop an alternative source of fuel suitable for their steam engines.

“Things have been made more difficult due to Russia’s war against Ukraine.”