Barry Tourist Railway closed for the 2022 season

PLANS by Transport for Wales to store trains at the main Barry Rail Depot in Wales have resulted in the Barry Tourist Railway being moved to a smaller shed at Plymouth Road on Barry Island.

TfW approached the Vale of Glamorgan Council, which owned the depot and neighbouring land, at the start of the year with a request to purchase to allow it to store and stable rail vehicles, including the new Class 756 units. The sale would net several million pounds worth of investment for the infrastructure for this purpose, seeing the depot return to main line use, as well as presenting new employment opportunities for the local community.

The heritage line runs from Barry Island station to Gladstone Bridge, past Woodham Brothers’ scrapyard, which is now a housing estate. The relocation of depots has led to the decision not to open the line as normal during 2022.

The line’s director, John Buxton, said: “Relocating our rolling stock, workshop facilities and stores presents a number of challenges, including a huge logistical exercise.

“This includes laying new sidings to store our retained rolling stock.

“At this time, we’re not sure how long it will take.

“Unfortunately, we are therefore not able to open this year as normal.”

He added that he was hopeful of some operations during August, but could not promise this for certain.

Although the plan is to maintain the pre-Covid services, the move will result in the need for the line to “slim down the rolling stock”.