Hi all,  

Here`s an update to announce that The Llangollen railway is now in a healthy financial state. The bank balance has increased significantly since thanks to a mixture of generous donations from supporters and the general public, grants, delays in rehiring staff, operating fewer steam trains, relying on DMU (Diesel Multiple Units) and diesel for midweek operations in particular, and passenger loadings had been about 10% above forecast. 

By their last day of service on Sunday November 7th 2021 the railway has operated on 85 days and carried over 23,000 passengers in the course of running 3500 miles on the Llangollen line since services resumed on July 9. 

Approximately £200,000 has also been approved under South Clwyd’s Levelling Up fund application towards the cost of the canopy for Corwen Central Station. But still there are still a number of critical steps required before the station can open, and dozens of non-critical tasks to be done before the job can be considered complete. 

Many thanks again to all supporters and members of the public who have made generous donations and visited the railway since it reopened in July. Thanks also to the Welsh Assembly Government and Denbighshire County Council for their support, and the media without whose generous coverage and supportive stance our plight would not have reached so wide an audience. 

In other positive news, whiles researching on the ‘Campaign for Better Transport’ website I have noticed that the whole of the original Llangollen route from Ruabon to Barmouth is listed among the lost railways of Wales, proposed to be re-instated in the future. This is a very good sign, but additional support and donations are needed to make the reinstatements a reality, so when possible, please consider donating for the campaign to help re-instate the reminder of the Llangollen line and many other lost railways around the country. Here`s the link to the website for more information: https://bettertransport.org.uk/re-opening-rail-lines?fbclid=IwAR3-IWeYgbgN4BNM55OAcL4L_YA2u94a4zk7ErRHF_wPCOp9-SIVcuiowOw#wales

Also, as stated in the previous update, we need to Obtain wide Public support to press Wrexham Council to protect the trackbed from housing and other developments within their county, to enable the railway to be re-instated to the mainline in Ruabon. More information can be found on the additional petition which has been made for that purpose.  

Again, anyone who have not yet signed and shared that petition, please do so in order to gain enough support to help the Llangollen Railway get reinstated to the mainline, and please email both petitions to your local MPs and the Welsh Government to get additional support towards safeguarding and funding the railway`s future re-instatement. 

Here`s the link to sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/mark-drakeford-wrexham-council-must-protect-the-track-bed-of-the-former-ruabon-to-llangollen-railway