WORK to extend a heritage railway that is expected to double tourism in a lakeside town are further down the line after the delivery of half the track.
The Bala Lake Railway Trust is fundraising £2.5million to expand the four-mile steam train route to include a brand-new bridge over the River Dee. The development, which started in March last year, includes the construction of a station in Bala town which could carry an extra 60,000 tourists to the High Street annually.
Earmarked for completion by the summer of 2020, the extension project has been boosted following the arrival of 600 metres of rail, donated by the East Lancashire heritage railway which runs from Greater Manchester to the Rossendale Valley.
Julian Birley, chairman of the Bala Lake Railway Trust, said “the day we see steam trains running into Bala is getting ever closer”.
“Bit by bit our plans to extend the railway to Bala are falling into place,” he said.
“We can’t thank enough those who are supporting us, be it in providing free services, donating funds or equipment or helping with our fundraising.”
The existing railway line, constructed in 1972, has had a 50 percent growth in total passenger numbers over the last four years.
Dilwyn Morgan, county councillor for Bala, said the work is part of a wider plan for Gwynedd county which is crossed by the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland railway.
Once the extension is complete, visitors will be able to travel on 25 miles of heritage routes between Bala and Snowdonia.
“The work will have big impact on Bala and surrounding areas and it will enable the railway to become a greater part of the community. This is important because the railway’s history and links to the town.”
During the winter, the trust will submit a planning application to the Snowdonia National Park Authority which manages the Llyn Tegid extension plot, while it is working with Natural Resources Wales to ensure the development complies with environmental measures for the lake.
Matthew Jenkins, NRW project manager for Llyn Tegid, said: “We continue to work closely with the railway to make sure that any proposed extension to the line would integrate with the essential strengthening works to the embankments.
“Both schemes would need planning and other relevant permissions, which are currently being developed.”
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