Conwy Valley line hosts steam train to celebrate reopening
Network Rail and Transport for Wales Rail Services hosted a special steam train trip on Saturday 3 August to celebrate the reopening of the Conwy Valley line.
The Conwy Quest, hauled by double headed steam locos 48151 and 46115, ran from Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog. It also stopped at Llandudno Junction along the way for a reopening ceremony, where Father (Tad) Deiniol, Welsh orthodox Priest, performed a blessing before it headed up the Valley.
The line, which was closed in March due to extensive flooding, fully reopened for passengers on 24 July ahead of the National Eisteddfod in Llanrwst.
Bill Kelly, route managing director, Wales and Borders, said: “The reopening of the Conwy Valley line was a great success and a fitting way to celebrate the importance of this section of railway in this part of north Wales. In particular, it was great to see so many young people and families who turned out in their droves to line the platforms of our station to celebrate the event with us.
“I would like to thank all those who were involved in this special day and, in particular, I would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding as we worked towards getting the line back on track.”
Colin Lea, customer experience director, Transport for Wales Rail Services, said: “This was a rare opportunity to travel by steam, through some of the best scenery in the United Kingdom.”
Network Rail own, operate and develop Britain’s railway infrastructure; 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. Network Rail run 20 of the UK’s largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country’s train operating companies.
Every day, there are more than 4.8 million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. Their role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway and carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation’s railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced – a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.
