Update: At 4.15pm North Wales Live was reporting that an air ambulance had landed at the scene.
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Free heritage craft at Pengwern Community Hub
The Little Learning Company are running free heritage craft activities at venues around Denbighshire, including Llangollen, during March.
On Wednesday March 4 there will be a session on folk art at Hwb Cymunedol Pengwern Llangollen Community Hub from 2.30-4pm.
You can book online or just turn up on the day. To book a place visit the website: https://www.thelittlelearningcompany.co.uk/event-details-registration/trailblazer-heritage-craft-activities
World Day of Prayer united service
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A World Day of Prayer united service is to be held at the English Methodist Church, Riverside, at 10.30am on Friday March 6. All are welcome.
Cytun Churches Together Llangollen has arranged a Lentern study group, which is a journey through Lent with the six Welsh cathedrals.
Sessions will be held every Tuesday until Easter at the Memorial Hall in Market Street, from 12.30-1.30pm. All are welcome.
Friday, February 27, 2026
Berwyn Shuttle project begins as historic railbus arrives at Llangollen
* The railway's Steve Barker, Oliver Lang and Roger Hodgkinson welcome the railbus to Llangollen.
Llangollen and Corwen Railway has today (Friday) welcomed the arrival of historic Railbus No. 79962, marking the beginning of an exciting restoration and operational project that could deliver a more environmentally sustainable shuttle service between Llangollen and Berwyn.
The Railbus has arrived on loan from the Vintage Carriages Trust, one of the UK’s leading accredited railway museums. Built in 1958 and one of only four surviving examples of its type in the world, Railbus 79962 represents a rare and innovative chapter in railway history.
Designed as a lightweight and economical solution for lightly used branch lines, the Railbus seats approximately 56 passengers and was built for flexible, efficient operation. Its low weight and ability to operate frequent short services make it particularly well suited to modern sustainable transport challenges.
The project, which formally begins now, has the potential to support the development of a regular Llangollen to Berwyn shuttle service. There is strong and growing interest from the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in establishing a shuttle to help reduce traffic congestion and parking pressures at Horseshoe Falls during busy periods.
By offering an attractive alternative to car travel, the shuttle would help protect the sensitive Dee Valley landscape while improving access for residents and visitors.
Tim Pulford, Engineering Manager at Llangollen and Corwen Railway, said: “The arrival of Railbus 79962 is a significant and exciting moment for us. A great deal of preparatory work has already been completed, including asbestos removal, floor repairs, heater overhaul and soundproofing. From an engineering perspective, this is a well understood vehicle with clear solutions to the remaining challenges. Our volunteers have inspected it thoroughly and we are confident it can be restored to a high standard and returned to operational use.”
As part of the partnership, the Vintage Carriages Trust will fund the overhaul of the Railbus and provide technical advice, operational guidance and, if required, driver training. Planning for the project is already well advanced.
In addition to its environmental benefits, the restoration programme will create new volunteering, training and skills development opportunities in light traction operation, mechanical systems and heritage restoration, supporting the railway’s long-term sustainability.
The Railbus project reflects Llangollen Railway’s commitment to partnership led, practical solutions that protect the environment while widening access to the Dee Valley.
MS opposes moves to legalise assisted dying
Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales (pictured) says he is totally against any moves to make assisted dying legal.
In the Senedd Mr Rowlands spoke against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which was approved by 28 votes to 23.
He said: “I'm unwavering in my decision, founded in my Christian faith, that it is not right for this Bill to proceed, because no matter their health, no matter their stage of life, every person is precious, every life is of equal worth, and our laws and healthcare system should always reflect that.
“Beyond my personal beliefs, I have serious concerns about patient safety, legal clarity, inequality and constitutional accountability. The fact is that granting consent now would embed into Welsh health services a practice that remains deeply contested. The Bill is still in Committee Stage with, as we've heard from others, over 1,000 amendments yet to be resolved.
“Let's be clear, while this Bill is titled with the words 'assisted dying', the Bill seeks to amend section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 to remove criminal liability for those who assist another person to end their own life. This LCM is asking us to embed assisted suicide within devolved health services in Wales.
“While crucial details remain unresolved. At a time when we rightly invest in suicide prevention and tell vulnerable people their lives matter, we must confront the contradiction of facilitating suicide as a medical service in certain circumstances. Doctors, as we know, are guided by the principle to first do no harm. This Bill would place our clinicians in Wales in conflicting roles, preventing suicide in some patients while validating it in others.
“If we are serious about dignity at the end of life, our priority should be universal access to high-quality palliative care, not the introduction of assisted suicide into mainstream practice.
Mr Rowlands reiterated his worries later on ITV’s political programme, Sharp End, where he expressed his concerns over the Bill and its principles.
He said: “I am deeply against the principle of assisted dying which is actually assisted suicide and it places health professionals in an extremely difficult position.
“We should be supporting people to live.”
£100,000 investment secures the future of Berwyn Tunnel
* Dave Shae and the team behind the Berwyn Tunnel job.
Llangollen and Corwen Railway has successfully completed a major programme of essential track renewal works inside the historic Berwyn Tunnel, marking a further £100,000 investment in the long-term safety and resilience of the line.
Delivered on time and on budget, the complex engineering project has seen hundreds of hours of skilled professional and volunteer time committed to renewing track in one of the most historic and technically challenging locations on the railway.
Berwyn Tunnel, a 689-yard curving structure built between 1864 and 1865 as part of the former Ruabon to Barmouth route, lay unused for decades before being brought back into service in the 1990s. Its age, length and confined environment mean that renewal works must be carefully planned, tightly controlled, and delivered to the highest safety standards.
The programme focused on replacing worn rails, sleepers and associated components to ensure the infrastructure remains safe, reliable and fit for continued operation. Sections of existing track were removed and extracted from the tunnel using specialist rail vehicles.
* The 1989 team some of whom helped complete the 2026 job.
The track bed was excavated to the required level before concrete sleepers and modern flat bottom rail were installed.
Mechanical plant was used wherever possible to reduce manual handling and improve safety. Fresh ballast was laid and the whole section tamped to align the track and ensure the ballast is packed underneath the sleepers.
All work was undertaken under a controlled engineering possession, overseen by the Permanent Way Supervisor and supported by employed staff, permanent way volunteers, the Civil’s Team and specialist contractors. The completed track has been fully inspected and signed off before being returned to service.
Llangollen and Corwen’s Engineering Manager Tim Pulford said the investment demonstrates the railway’s clear priorities.
“This project represents close to £100,000 invested directly into the safety and resilience of our railway. It is not glamorous work, and passengers will not necessarily see it, but it is absolutely fundamental to our future.
“I’m extremely proud of the way the team approached this demanding project. Working inside a tunnel environment requires discipline, teamwork and constant attention to risk control. The professionalism shown throughout has been outstanding, and we are particularly grateful to the many volunteers, including our Civil’s Team, whose support has been invaluable.”
Permanent Way Supervisor and Person in Charge of the Works Dave Shaw added, “Replacing track in a tunnel like Berwyn is complex work, but it is critical to the safe operation of the railway. Every stage was carefully planned and delivered in line with our risk assessments and method statements. To complete it on time and on budget is a real credit to everyone involved.”
The renewal significantly reduces the risk of unplanned disruption and ensures trains can continue to run safely through one of the line’s most important structures. With the works complete, full line services are now able to operate once again.
The railway is also preparing for its 2026 season. The popular Berwyn Shuttle operated on 14, 15, 18 and 21 February, with the new season beginning on Saturday 28 February, including the first Steam hauled full line Llangollen to Corwen return services following completion of the works. Other highlights include the Branch Line Gala from 10 to 12 April.
The Berwyn Tunnel relaying project underlines the railway’s continued commitment to investing in core infrastructure. While passengers may not immediately see the improvements hidden within the tunnel, they can travel knowing that substantial resources continue to be directed towards maintaining and strengthening the foundations of a safe and sustainable heritage railway.
Thursday, February 26, 2026
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