Plans put in for new railway station building

PLANS to develop a new station building on a popular Eryri heritage railway line are moving a step closer.

The Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park planning authority has received an application for the construction of a station at Beddgelert.

The proposals, for a site north of Oberon Wood, were lodged by the Ffestiniog Railway Company. They are a redesign of a previous application which had been approved 10 years ago but never completed.

The latest scheme includes the construction of a railway station building to include ticket office, cafe, indoor and outdoor seating, toilets, office, covered waiting area and other associated infrastructure.

The Design, Access and Heritage Impact Statement has been prepared by Chambers Conservation for the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway.

The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway’s director and general manager Paul Lewin said: “When the railway received its transport and works order it included “deemed planning consent” for a station at Beddgelert.

“But the further arrangement was that we would go through the planning procedures to agree its design and look with the national park’s planning authority.

“Over 10 years ago we did submit a design for a station, and that was approved. We started work on it, but we only got as far as starting the foundations, due to funds available at the time.

“But we have returned to look at the site and we have re-evaluated the design and done several things to make the plans lighter, so it meets modern building regulations and to improve its environmental credentials.

“Beddgelert it is a popular destination, and our passengers need somewhere they can wait for the train in the dry, and with quality toilets in keeping in with modern expectations

“There is no formal time-scale, or completion date, for the plans at the moment. “