Ballast dropped as Llangollen extension enters final phase
CORWEN, THE Llangollen Railway’s long-anticipated new terminus, is expected to welcome its first fare-paying passengers next year.
The final phase of work to complete the extension to the new station began on October 25 with the dropping of nearly 100 tonnes of ballast on the station approach adjacent to Corwen signal box. LR press officer George Jones said: “The track here has to be brought up to the required height to allow the points to be connected with the lineside switching mechanism already in situ.”
He added: “Although 100 tonnes may sound a lot of stone, it did not go very far. It will require several more drops along the track on both sides of the island platform loop through to the end of the line at Green Lane. It is likely more works trains will be operated during November before the job is finished. It will then be necessary to hire in a tamping machine, which will pack and align the track to a standard for passenger train operation.”
Project leader Richard Dixon-Gough said: “The ballast drop was a huge lift for the volunteers, and it is the beginning of a long, expensive process. Although we have some ballast in stock, there is a need to purchase considerably more to complete this very necessary part of the project. The cost of new ballast is £550 per 20-tonne load.
“Many other essential tasks have to be completed before the railway can open, but the ballasting is a significant step towards bringing an operational railway back into the centre of Corwen.”
● Corwen’s platform canopy is to be funded as part of a £15 million Levelling Up Fund grant awarded to the Clwyd South constituency.