Llangollen Railway - Heritage Railcar Weekend 4th-5th October 2025

I'm hoping to attend on the Saturday, currently awaiting timetable and other details publication.

In the meantime I wondered if anyone had any thoughts about this event, if they had attended last year's event and what it was like?

As far as getting there goes, I'm planning to get an early train (0642) from Nottingham to Ruabon (change Birmingham & Shrewsbury, arrive 0955) and then there appears to be a twice hourly bus service (Arriva no.5) from Ruabon station to near Llangollen station, looks like I can get there before 1100. Does that sound optimal?

I've never been to the Llangollen railway before so any info is welcome.

 

The Arriva no.5 bus does not go to Ruabon Station. You need to walk down Station Road to the main road & cross over.
The T3 bus does stop at the station but only runs every 2 hours.

 

Ah yes, I see. End of Station road, not at the station. About 2 minutes walk, that's fine.

Thanks.

 

Not sure if it’s been added to the website yet, but the timetable and some information was posted on the railways Facebook page earlier this week:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/179pErhBn1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

Thanks, if my bus from Ruabon is on time I should just make the 1045.

 

Well, sadly I'm chickening out. With storm Amy on the way - strong winds and heavy rain on Friday/Saturday, I think my chances of getting there on time (or possibly at all) early on Saturday morning using three trains (with a tight connection at Shrewsbury) and a bus are poor. Also the LLangollen itself might be having issues with debris on the line, and then there's getting back. So I'll stay in and watch a film, and monitor the trains via RTT. I guess I'll have to wait till next year's event!

Edit: Decision to abandon still looks right on Friday morning - howling winds and torrential rain forecast for the time I would have arrived. I do wonder if the event will even happen on Saturday?

 

The main road (bus route) between Ruabon and Llangollen is prone to flooding, and not unknown for trees to block the road too (although credit where it's due, they are pretty quick to clear any fallen trees.)

 

If you're travelling to Llangollen tomorrow via the A5, please be aware that the Ceiriog viaduct may be closed if the wind reaches a certain level.
The diversion through Chirk could add time to your journey.

Bob.

 

Considering the weather the furthest I'm going tomorrow is 1/4 mile down the road to collect a parcel from the pickup point!

 

May be too late for today, but . . . at least a convenient alternative route between Chirk and Ruabon will be available shortly . . . (Not that you'd need it for the A5 to Llan)

"The B5605 in Newbridge will fully reopen this Saturday (October 4) following the completion of a major engineering project to repair the road.
https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/25513189.wrexham-council-confirm-newbridge-road-will-reopen/"

It's only taken them 4 years (Guess they didn't use the same firm as Severn Valley Rly. )

 

I'm glad I chickened out! One of my two possible routes was Nottingham to Crewe via the Derby to Stoke line, and the train I would have been on hit a tree! No injuries but the train sat in the middle of nowhere for about an hour and a half before limping to Stoke and terminating, overall I would have missed most of the day so I would probably have abandoned. The other possible route ran smoothly train-wise but the bus from Ruabon was just late enough to miss the 1045 DMU at Llangollen so I would have had a pretty truncated day with likely disruption on the way back.