THE last train has departed Dwyrain Corwen East.

The temporary terminus for the Llangollen heritage railway has closed to public services after four years.

The platform has been in used as a Phase 1 station on the Llangollen Railway's Corwen Central extension - due to open next year - when the two mile line from Carrog opened in October 2014 .

Stationmaster Wayne Ronneback said: "Although provided as a temporary measure in 2014, the platform has been successful in introducing passengers to the western end of the line and has attracted a growing number of passengers to start their journey through the Dee Valley from Corwen."

Locomotive No 3802, the last train of the summer 2018 season, left the platform just before 4pm bedecked with a special commemorative headboard and Welsh flags to mark the occasion.

The closure follows the installation of a restored heritage signal box two miles outside of Corwen which will guard the East end entrance to the new station layout for trains entering Corwen from Llangollen in 2019.

The temporary platform will now be dismantled and the materials recovered.

Mr Ronneback added: "This was necessary whilst the project team tackled the immense task of building the Phase 2 station with a loop line to allow the train to terminate and for the locomotive to run round at the island platform in preparation for the return journey.

"As of a date to be announced in 2019, visitors will be able to travel from and to the centre of Corwen where the train will stop over for a 20 minute interval.

"We expect the new arrangements to attract more visitors from a wider segment of the North Wales tourism market to come for the journey on the only standard gauge heritage railway in North Wales.

For the winter time services trains will terminate at Carrog for Santa Special and Mince Pie Special trains pending an opening through to the new Corwen terminal at a date to be announced in 2019.