Beddgelert railway station
Encyclopedia
Beddgelert railway station is a railway station on the narrow gauge Welsh Highland Railway
in North Wales
.
The rebuilt station was officially opened by Lord Elis-Thomas
on 7 April 2009.
line from - Portmadoc
, was in operation, with a passing loop and three sidings, from 1922 to 1936.
Work to rebuild the station began in December 2006. The new station has a large curved island platform, allowing for two trains to pass each other. There are two small shelters for passenger use.
A large water tower has been installed at the north west end of the platform. An original locomotive siding on the west side of the station has been retained and lengthened.
The main station building, which will not be on the platform, is to be located north east of the platform. Construction commenced in 2007 with the laying of the base. Completion has been delayed, due to financial reasons.
Restrictions were placed upon the company, including not to open the station until the line was completed. On 23 July 2008, the Snowdonia National Park Authority (SNPA) removed, on appeal, a planning condition which would have limited sales at the station to tickets and railway souvenirs only. Once facilities are provided it will thus be possible for visitors to get a cup of tea at the station as well as in the village.
to avoid confusion with the former passing loop near . However, after local representations it reverted, within days, to original name.
then on 22 May 2010, to .
Welsh Highland Railway
The Welsh Highland Railway is a long restored narrow gauge heritage railway in North Wales, operating from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, and passing through a number of popular tourist destinations including Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass. At Porthmadog it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway...
in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
.
The rebuilt station was officially opened by Lord Elis-Thomas
Dafydd Elis-Thomas
Dafydd Elis Elis-Thomas, Baron Elis-Thomas, PC, AM, is a Welsh politician and was the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales until 2011...
on 7 April 2009.
History
The original station, which served the original Welsh Highland RailwayWelsh Highland Railway
The Welsh Highland Railway is a long restored narrow gauge heritage railway in North Wales, operating from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, and passing through a number of popular tourist destinations including Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass. At Porthmadog it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway...
line from - Portmadoc
Porthmadog Harbour railway station
Porthmadog Harbour station in North Wales is the southern passenger terminus of two narrow gauge railways: the Ffestiniog Railway, which was built in 1836 to carry dressed slate from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog for export by sea, and the Welsh Highland Railway, built in 1923, which runs to...
, was in operation, with a passing loop and three sidings, from 1922 to 1936.
Construction
A large water tower has been installed at the north west end of the platform. An original locomotive siding on the west side of the station has been retained and lengthened.
The main station building, which will not be on the platform, is to be located north east of the platform. Construction commenced in 2007 with the laying of the base. Completion has been delayed, due to financial reasons.
Opposition
Plans to reopen the station in Beddgelert created local opposition over a number of matters; it was far too big and intruded upon the landscape; increased traffic in the village and parking. It can allow for over 300 people to alight from trains.Restrictions were placed upon the company, including not to open the station until the line was completed. On 23 July 2008, the Snowdonia National Park Authority (SNPA) removed, on appeal, a planning condition which would have limited sales at the station to tickets and railway souvenirs only. Once facilities are provided it will thus be possible for visitors to get a cup of tea at the station as well as in the village.
Operations
Between 7 April 2009 and 21 May 2009, all trains terminated at Beddgelert. Since that time, it has served as a normal passing station, as the line has been extended, firstly to a temporary halt at ,Briefly named Hen Hafod by the Festiniog Railway CompanyFfestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
to avoid confusion with the former passing loop near . However, after local representations it reverted, within days, to original name.
then on 22 May 2010, to .