The Vale of Rheidol Railway - News

I can say for certain there was definitely a press release confirming plans, although how it's bypassed so many other news outlets genuinely surprises me...

 

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Storm Darragh: The Aftermath on the Vale of Rheidol Railway

This past weekend, Storm Darragh swept through Wales, leaving its mark across the landscape. While we are relieved to report that the section of the line to Capel Bangor – currently being used for our Polar Express™ trains – remains undamaged, further up the railway has not been so fortunate.

Yesterday, our dedicated team walked the full length of the line to Devil's Bridge and uncovered a scene of devastation. Between 80-100 trees have fallen across the railway, many in remote and hard-to-reach areas surrounded by steep terrain. In some places, the trees have caused further challenges by disturbing the trackbed with their root systems.

This is a monumental challenge for our team. The areas affected can only be accessed by rail, and the hazardous nature of some locations adds to the complexity. Our winter works programme was already packed, and this unexpected task will significantly impact our plans for the coming months.

Unfortunately, as the storm did not cause direct structural damage, our insurance does not cover the costs of clearing and repairing the line. This means the financial impact on the railway will be significant.

We are determined to overcome these challenges and keep the railway running, but this is a stark reminder of the forces of nature we contend with in such a beautiful but rugged part of Wales. We will keep you updated on our progress in the weeks ahead.

 

The Talyllyn seems to have been similarly affected. https://www.talyllyn.co.uk/news/storm-darragh-update/ as the the WHR/FR

Seems North Wales took the brunt of the storm.