Corwen Central station comes closer

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By George Jones

VOLUNTEERS have been encouraged to press on with different aspects of Llangollen Railway’s new Corwen Central western terminus project following high-profile inspections by successive visitors to the site.

The ‘guest list’ has included chairman of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy CBE, the Welsh Minister for Culture, Tourism & Sport, Lord Elis-Thomas, and Network Rail manager for England and Wales, Andy Thomas,

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The temporary building, as delivered 12 months ago, has received planning permission from Denbighshire County Council and, after acquiring a new watertight roof and new entrance and exit doors, a coat of chocolate and cream paint has been applied to the exterior.

The latest high-profile visitor to the Corwen Central station construction site was Andy Thomas, Network Rail’s managing director England and Wales, who was given a guided tour of the station works site by project leader Richard Dixon-Gough. He was shown the current progress with the building of the platform 1 wall and the recently installed new-build water tank. Andy (pictured left) said: “The Llangollen Railway provides the local community and visitors to the area the chance to journey back in time, and I am pleased to see the heritage railway able to expand through generous donations, including from the Welsh Government. This is an exciting time as the new station platform is completed at Corwen Central, and I would encourage staff from Network Rail to use their volunteer leave to support the Llangollen Railway volunteers in these final stages of the project.”

The interior is now available for fitting out as a ticket office and waiting room. The work will be undertaken by the Dwyrain Corwen East temporary station staff as their future new workplace.

It has been decided access for the mobility impaired will be via a chairlift to be installed in the subway stairway, rather than the initially proposed access ramp off the embankment at Green Lane. The provision of the lift comes at an additional cost, of course, and funding towards it is being sought.

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Building of the locking room for the signalbox acquired a new urgency during the summer when it was decided the eventual layout of the points for the loop and the siding would complicate the delivery of the wooden cabin top. Brick laying to above door frame height, incorporating lower window frames, as previously restored, is nearing completion by early-August.

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