THE CORWEN Central Station Project has received £128,000 in grant aid from the Welsh Government.

The Llangollen Railway Trust has announced that it has been successful with the application for grant aid to assist with the building of a new railway station at Corwen.

The money will be used to build an island platform at the Corwen Central station site where a volunteer work force, aided by contractors, has re-engineered the disused railway embankment to accommodate a new rail terminal.

Costed at £160,000, this project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

Project leader, Richard Dixon-Gough, said: “The availability of this funding from the Welsh Government ensures that work on the site can continue throughout the summer to provide a completed platform around which a loop line will be laid. This will allow for the eventual connection through to the current railhead at Dwyrain Corwen East temporary platform.”

Chairman of Llangollen Railway Trust, Peter Lund, added: “The Welsh Government’s financial support for this project is most welcome as a boost to the challenge which the project represents.

“As with other towns which have benefited from being reconnected to a heritage railway, we expect the return of train services to the centre of Corwen to have a big tourism impact on the fortunes of this historic centre for North Wales and an increase in the passenger numbers using the train services.”

The Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths added: “I am pleased this investment with help expand Llangollen Railway services to Corwen town centre. This is good news for the company, the local economy and for Wales’ thriving tourism industry.”