Welsh highland Railway Opens! ... but only to Beddgelert

[Born Acorn]

Both combined reach about 40 miles at 25mph (max line speed), that's around 4 hours each way, with other speed restrictions and stations taken into effect, you're looking at 8 hours return. Seeing as the first WHR trains are at 10:35, and the last around 6PM, there's just not enough time in a working day.

[Dave]

Both combined reach about 40 miles at 25mph (max line speed), that's around 4 hours each way, with other speed restrictions and stations taken into effect, you're looking at 8 hours return. Seeing as the first WHR trains are at 10:35, and the last around 6PM, there's just not enough time in a working day.

What Ameecher said.

That's exactly what I meant.

[Born Acorn]

And lo, Beddgelert is open - http://whr.bangor.ac.uk/beddgelert-opening.htm

[welshdragon]

The local media had a field day about the opening,
However I can't believe the nerve of some idiots, they protested along the lineside and also had committed sabotage! as Paul Lewin, the manager said "give it a few years and there will be no sight of the railway apart from the Trains"... inconsiderate w*******s

[Kevo00]

Why would you protest against this? Nothing wrong with peaceful protest however - why would you want to sabotage this? Were the BTP called?

Sounds like NIMBYism gone mad. You'd think people living in what is after all the middle of nowhere would be happy about something like this happening on their doorstep.

[welshdragon]

The BTP can't really get involved. and the protesters claim not enough planning was done, and it destroys the natural beauty of the National Park. The National Park Authority was strongly against the railway, but something changed that.

and yes, it is the middle of nowhere, but if you are in the valley you will be able to hear the sounds of the trains from miles away! i'm going on it over the coming days (i think) so i'll be taking pictures!

Also, If any of you have any free time over the summer, the WHR badly needs volunteers, i myself will be volunteering for a month, travelling from my parents! (which is a 3.5 hour journey by bus!)

[Born Acorn]

The BTP can't really get involved. and the protesters claim not enough planning was done, and it destroys the natural beauty of the National Park. The National Park Authority was strongly against the railway, but something changed that.

I believe they still dislike the idea, but John Prescott overruled a decision to not build the line. As the plan to build went through, the SNPA can't do anything. The Ffestiniog Railway exists due to an Act of Parliament, which grants them compulsory purchase powers the NPA can't argue with, and any structures that constitute "railway operational structures" don't need any new planning permission.

The BTP was mentioned a few months ago, but because determined walkers keep trying to walk along the track through the tunnels!

On the bright side, a Bangor University report estimates the WHR and FR contribute £9 million to Gwynedd's economy. Not bad for a railway that protesters deem "pointless".

[Dave]

The BTP can't really get involved. and the protesters claim not enough planning was done, and it destroys the natural beauty of the National Park. The National Park Authority was strongly against the railway, but something changed that.

and yes, it is the middle of nowhere, but if you are in the valley you will be able to hear the sounds of the trains from miles away! i'm going on it over the coming days (i think) so i'll be taking pictures!

Also, If any of you have any free time over the summer, the WHR badly needs volunteers, i myself will be volunteering for a month, travelling from my parents! (which is a 3.5 hour journey by bus!)

Would if I could. Will probably volunteer at the Ribble Steam Railway over the summer.

[Kevo00]

Well lets be fair, building a railway is not as destructive as if they had built a road, and part of the National Park authority's remit is supposed to be to make the national park more accessible to visitors - and this railway will probably bring people there that would not otherwise have visited. Besides, we should be trying to grab all the tourism revenue we can with the difficult economic conditions, with the weak pound its a good time for people to visit the UK.

I seem to remember this railway always was controversial though - wasn't there originally an argument between the FR and WHR over rebuilding this?

[welshdragon]

There was an argument with the WHHR (originally the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog), now the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway), and that argument still exists, the WHHR would like running rights on the line up to Caernarfon (Their current terminus being Pen - y - Mount),
However, the Ffestiniog Railway doesn't seem to be able to accommodate the services, This has been an ongoing argument and has yet to find a resolution.

[Kevo00]

Lol, surely they could demand access via the EU open track access directive or something?

[Born Acorn]

Not really. Heritage/steam lines are private lines.

Besides, the entire stretch of track is required for unscheduled PW and test trains - The track between Beddgelert and Porthmadog where the WHHR is located is, for now, completely unusable as far as public trains are concerned.

Next year, joint running may be allowed, once the line is finished. The WHHR only wants to go as far as Beddgelert, with possible specials to Dinas.

Originally, the WHHR was to rebuild the entire line, using (what some thought to be dubious) a scheme under which the Council would seek out and obtain the trackbed, and then own it, with the railway leasing it. Those people who thought it dubious were suspended from WHHR, and formed a company called Trackbed Consolidation Limited, seeking to get ownership of the trackbed itself. Suspended from the WHHR, they went to the Ffestiniog Railway. The scheme succeeded, creating tension with the WHHR, who had been trying to get the trackbed since 1964.

[welshdragon]

An article in today's North Wales Coast Notice Board explained the opening, and also explains the extent of the vandalism:

...Unfortunately, earlier in the day Police were called to the Rhyd Ddu (area(typo)) after damage was caused to telephone equipment and the station building. The single-line token, was also stolen, and a new one had to be made, delaying the first train. One guest, Welsh Assembly presiding officer Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas, branded the vandals 'irresponsible nutters.'...

There is also available to view here his video of the day

[Born Acorn]

Opening Day video!

[welshdragon]

My uncle decided that they didn't want to go there, which meant that i haven't yet been on it, but i will definately be there over the summer!

[Born Acorn]

I shall definitely be doing it sometime this year. Hopefully near the end of the season when it may be open to Porthmadog and the tourist season dies down.

[ostlandr]

Interesting that they allowed a railway to be built through one of your national parks. Could never happen here.

[hippeebus]

A shame that the same logic probably couldnt be applied to reopening the midland route through the peak district.

[Born Acorn]

Interesting that they allowed a railway to be built through one of your national parks. Could never happen here.

There are several reasons why:

The original alignment was already there, only a bit more flooded due to the original construction company not building much drainage.

The original alignment was still owned by the 1923 company, itself in a complicated legal state preventing it's dissolution.

[Born Acorn]

A bit of bad news, it seems! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/8009945.stm