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Work to restore a rail line to a Denbighshire town is approaching the half-way mark, say enthusiasts.

Llangollen Railway is extending its line to Corwen and enthusiasts say track laying is going well with the route already cleared and fenced off.

People officially walked the two-mile (3.2km) extension for the last time this week. The next time will be by train when the line opens next year.

Currently, the line covers seven miles (11.2km), from Llangollen to Carrog.

Railway enthusiasts and workers are currently extending the route close to the A5 Holyhead Road and are reaching an area called Bonwm.

In all, a team of 20 are involved in the track-laying and others have been involved in clearing vegetation and fencing and gating the area either side of the line over the last 12 months.

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51099000/jpg/_51099050_corwenmap226.jpg)
The rail line has not run between Corwen and Carrog since 1965

Ten water culverts, four under passes - also carrying streams - and one over bridge serving a farm all form part of the route and need to be checked, restored and maintained.

Jim Ritchie, chair of Llangollen Railway Trust, said the biggest challenge is to prevent further erosion caused by the river to two sections of the track bed along with the restoration of the Victorian bridge.

Annually, 100,000 passengers travel on Llangollen Railway which forms part of the old Ruabon, near Wrexham, to Barmouth Line.

Construction of the line from Carrog to Corwen, including a planned new station, has been costed at ^4.6m, and although some "invaluable" grant funding has been obtained from the Welsh government, the railway is expected to contribute ^1m from its own resources.

Enthusiasts hope the track will be completed by December, reaching a temporary platform at Corwen.

Corwen's railway station plan halted over funding

A planned train station at Corwen in Denbighshire has been put on hold because of a lack of funding.

The Llangollen Railway Trust blamed the economic climate and said it would not be possible in the "foreseeable future without substantial grant aid". The trust said alternative arrangements would be put in place.

Also a planned extension of the Llangollen Railway to Corwen will not be able to carry passengers until 2014, up to a year later than planned.

The first passengers were expected in Corwen next year, and shops and businesses have been preparing to welcome an estimated 90,000 extra visitors annually.

Construction of the line from Carrog to Corwen, including a planned new station, was costed at ^4.6m. Grant funding was obtained from the Welsh government, but the railway was expected to contribute ^1m.

In a statement, the Llangollen Railway trust said: "Following a major review of the Corwen project the board of Llangollen Railway Trust has reluctantly concluded that, due to the present economic climate, it will not be possible to fund the proposed phase two terminal station at Corwen in the foreseeable future without substantial grant aid."

Instead, a "run-round loop" will be installed to allow the train to turn round, and passengers will disembark at Corwen East station.

The trust's chairman, Jim Ritchie, said: "The revised scheme recognises the practicalities of the situation. It is a realistic solution to the need to provide regular steam train services at Corwen sooner than waiting for the phase two terminal to be delivered.

"However, the additional work involved in implementing this option will mean some delay in completing phase one work, such that steam trains will not operate until early 2014, subject to continued financial contributions towards completion of the track extension work."

Corwen trains due to return in 2014 after 49 year wait

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Currently, the line covers seven miles (11.2km) from Llangollen to Carrog

Trains are scheduled to return to a Denbighshire town for the first time in almost 50 years from next March.

Corwen Station shut in 1965 but volunteers at nearby Llangollen Railway began work on a two-mile (3.2km) extension to reopen the link in 2011. With a half mile of track left to lay, organisers are "hopefully" scheduling the first train for 1 March.

They are hosting a guided walk along the track from Carrog Station on New Year's Day, weather permitting. Visitors will be able to see that the completed track bed extension is now within sight of the town.

Meanwhile, work is also being completed at the other end of the link in Corwen on a temporary platform.

The ^1m project - agreed in August 2010 - has been delayed due to floods and unexpected building work as well as fund raising because Llangollen Railway has to find about ^200,000 towards the costs.

Now, volunteers have set a countdown clock on the new Corwen Station website with the first train set to arrive on 1 March.

A passenger service between Llangollen and Corwen last ran in 1965 and the rails were taken up in 1968.

A Llangollen Railway spokesperson said: "If the present rate of progress can continue, subject to the acquisition of funds and material, not to forget the winter's weather, the arrival of a first train at the station site on 1 March 2014 remains a possibility.

"An official date for commencement of train services has yet to be decided and a further announcement should be awaited, although the 2014 Llangollen Railway timetable leaflet includes the times of trains to and from Corwen."

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Nearly there... volunteers involved in the railway line extension

Good work by the Llangollen.

It's a shame tha it is unlikely they will ever get back to Ruabon and connect with the national network, due to developments on the route.

Possibly another line that in retrospect shouldn't have been shut! For debate.

Corwen welcomes first train for 50 years

It is full steam ahead at last for railway enthusiasts who are celebrating the first trains to visit Corwen station in nearly half a century.

The Denbighshire station saw its last service in 1964 after rail cutbacks.

But volunteers at nearby Llangollen Railway have been working for four years on a two-mile (3.2km) extension from Carrog to reopen the link.

Around 30 people, many in their 60s, worked for three days a week during the past year to complete the line.

The original steam-hauled passenger line closed at Corwen in December 1964 due to flooding and the rails were taken up in 1968.

Enthusiasts first talked of re-opening the line in 1975, and the railway raised ^280,000 towards the ^1.2m grant-funded project over the last four years.

Contractors were brought in to work on a bridge and erect a temporary platform but most of the clearance work and track laying was done by the volunteers.

The work involved:
- Clearing the route of vegetation but being careful as it runs through a site of special scientific interest
- Laying 5,280 railway sleepers
- Bringing in 4,000 tonnes of ballast
- Negotiating five underpasses and two level crossings

The line already runs 7.5 miles (12km) from Llangollen to Carrog.

The last half a mile of track has now been completed and steam trains can reverse out on a single track from a new temporary platform at Dwyrain Corwen East and back to Llangollen.

"It has been a great challenge and a great achievement," said George Jones of the Llangollen Railway Trust.

Five coaches will run on a special service at 15:00 BST and a timetable will run three trains a day from 27 October.

The enthusiasts now want to establish a ^1m permanent station in Corwen.

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Trains will run on a single track to a temporary station

Llangollen chain bridge could reopen by March

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Llangollen's chain bridge could be open to the public by March

Workmen have begun removing sections of Llangollen's historic chain bridge in a ^465,000 restoration project which will see it reopened to the public after more than 30 years.

Contractors are using roped access over the River Dee to dismantle parts of the metalwork while the decking will be restored off-site.

Reassembly could take place in February and the bridge could be open by March.

It was closed because of safety concerns.

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A view of the original chain bridge in 1870 before it was replaced in 1876

The local town and community councils bought it for a nominal ^1 sum to try to ensure its restoration.

The current bridge was constructed in 1929, although the original was built in 1817.

It was devised by a local coal merchant looking to create a cheap transport route across the River Dee to enable coal from Llangollen Canal to cross the river to the A5 road, bypassing tolls.

Llangollen Town Council and Llantysilio Community Council have been trying to raise funds to carry out the bridge's repairs since 2007.

The Heritage Lottery Fund pledged ^350,000 last year.

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A path to Berwyn Station will be created to give access to Llangollen railway line

Money needed to complete 45-year project to build a railway line between two Denbighshire towns has been raised, volunteers have said.

Ten miles (16km) of the Llangollen steam railway line has been rebuilt between Llangollen and Corwen, with a platform created at the end.

But £10,000 was needed to fill a gap in the embankment between the new Corwen station and the rest of the line.

The gap was created to allow access to a sewage farm and must now be filled.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-47955061

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-47955061

What with?

The cubic capacity of the gap will require some 9,000 tonnes of spoil to be brought in and compacted at an estimated cost of £10,000.

https://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/corwen-development/


Fair enough - but begs the new question "why is the gap no longer needed for access?". 
~

What with?

With what, surely?  ;) :D ;D

Fair enough - but begs the new question "why is the gap no longer needed for access?". 

A 45-year project to build a railway line between two Denbighshire towns is due to be completed.

Ten miles (16km) of the Llangollen steam railway line has been rebuilt between Llangollen and Corwen, with a platform created at the end.

Earlier this year, the final £10,000 was raised to fill a gap in the embankment between the new Corwen station and the rest of the line.

Work on the line is due to formally finish on Tuesday.

From the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-50716927)


Congratulations to them.   I suppose the Rueben to Llangollen section is too far gone to consider a relink to the national network?