01.05.14
Weather-beaten rail line reopened on Cambrian Coast
Trains are running once again between Barmouth and Harlech following a £10m programme to repair severe damage on the Cambrian Coast’s rail infrastructure and sea defences caused by the winter storms.
Delivered two weeks ahead of schedule, Network Rail's work involved removing 40 tonnes of debris and reinstating 6,000 pieces of 'rock armour' that form the sea protection.
More than 1,000 sleepers, 2,500 tonnes of ballast and 1,400 metres of track were also installed to enable passenger trains to resume once more.
Mark Langman, Network Rail's route managing director for Wales, said: “The scale of damage across the Cambrian Coast following the storms was unprecedented. There were multiple breaches of the sea defences and major damage to the railway infrastructure.
“I know how important the line is to the local economy and we were determined to re-open the line as soon as it was safe to do so.”
The railway had been closed since the winter storms caused widespread damage along the line in early January. One of the worst affected sites was at Llanaber, north of Barmouth, where the storms and tidal surges had severely damaged the infrastructure.
Ben Davies, stakeholder liaison manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: "We welcome the reopening of this section of the line and are delighted that it is an important step forward to the whole of the Cambrian Coast line reopening later on in the summer.”
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