Train services are set to restart on the Llangollen Railway - five months after the collapse of the former operator.
Back in March Llangollen Railway PLC announced it was not legally able to continue to trade with the company insolvent to the extent of £350,000.
Since then the Llangollen Railway Trust has been battling to save the heritage line and completed a deal with the administrators to purchase certain assets belonging to the railway along with the right to use the railway line.
Now the trust aims to resume train services from Friday subject to inspection and approval of maintenance work carried out on the River Dee Bridge.
Initially, it will be an hourly Llangollen to Berwyn shuttle service using the diesel railcars operating Fridays – Sundays.
A week-long effort by volunteers saw the bridge work completed last Friday The permanent way team fitted the check rails to the new timbers, aligned the track and welded up the rail joints.
This finalised renewal work started in March when new baulk timbers were installed prior the PLC receiver suspending work. The bridge is due to be inspected by an independent engineer for approval before the work can be signed off.
The railway’s engineer will also inspect the track between the bridge and Berwyn Tunnel before trains can start running to Berwyn.
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Operations director Mike Williams said: “An enormous amount of work has been necessary before LRT can run revenue earning train services, with a prime need to complete the railway’s Safety Management System for approval. We have also started refresh sessions for all operations staff and have begun Competency Examinations to ensure staff are fully qualified after so long a lay-off from their duties.”
The railway last ran trains on 1 October 2020. The Trust is now the operating company and has been striving to acquire assets and funding to allow train services to resume.
All services will be using the heritage diesel units provided by Llangollen Railcars.
Their spokesman John Joyce said: “We are expecting to roster the class 108 Derby set for July 9 . The class 109 Wickham set is in reserve, if demand warrants additional seats, subject to social distancing. After an eight-month layover the units have been subject to checks and test runs in to Llangollen station for crew refresher sessions.
“Trains will depart Llangollen hourly, Fridays to Sundays, from 11am through to 4pm and allow a 15-minute stopover at Berwyn to enjoy the view of the Dee Gorge or sample the Chain Bridge.
"Other options for passengers are to visit the Horseshoe Falls or take the traditional walk back to Llangollen along the canal.
“Running a heritage DMU service to Berwyn will be recreating the pioneering days of 1986/87 when services at Llangollen first extended across the Dee bridge. We hope our supporters will turn out and buy a ticket to ride the shuttle if revenues are to cover operational costs and make a contribution to the railway’s overheads when costs like insurance and utility bills remain substantial expenses for the LRT.”
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For Friday evening, two special trains will run to Berwyn in connection with the civic occasion to mark International Musical Eisteddfod week when the road bridge in Llangollen is due to be illuminated.
Llangollen Railway Trust chairman Peter Edward said: "Llangollen Railway are delighted to be able to return to operation with a limited service to Berwyn on Friday 9th.
“This is the result of a massive effort by volunteers at the railway and is also indicative of the significant support we've had from agencies and elected representatives. There is much more to do before we are running along the full length of the line, but we hope this marks the beginning of a new chapter in the story of our railway and its place in the Dee Valley."
Looking beyond Berwyn station, there are essential engineering works needed in the Berwyn Tunnel, the West End Point work at Glyndyfrdwy station to relay and repairs to Occupational Crossings at Carrog.
Once the Berwyn Tunnel work is finished, train services can extend to Glyndyfrdwy, initially again using diesel unit traction until the west end points become available. When run round facilities are operational at Glyndyfrdwy, the options are for using Steam or Diesel loco hauled services. Upon completion of the Occupational Crossings, trains will start running to Carrog, hopefully by early August.
The option then is for an engineering train to run to Corwen and drop ballast on the point work and station loop prior to the tamping of the track through the station, as a longer-term aim.
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