* The online petition started by Daniel Newton.
An online petition has been started calling
on Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford to support the re-opening of a railway
line from Ruabon to link Llangollen and Corwen, and potentially Bala, all back
to the mainline rail network.
On change.org Daniel Newton of Rhosllanerchrugog
says he is seeking political backing for the idea
which he claims would benefit the local economy.
In the preamble to the petition, which has
so far drawn over 60 supporting names of its 100-name target, he adds that his plan would also secure
the long-term future of the existing Llangollen Railway as well as
significantly enhancing public transport into all of the local areas.
He explains: “The wonderfully refurbished and preserved
Llangollen steam railway provides spectacular scenic views for all tourists to
enjoy; but with Llangollen Railway PLC having gone into receivership in March
2021, and a rescue plan via the Trust and a "Potential Buyer"
currently being negotiated, and reported in the local papers and Welsh news
(and with all the nationwide debate over HS2 being built in England and nothing
being invested to extend the Welsh railway network to embrace the likely very
positive effect of HS2's national economic growth potential), the time and public
awareness and profile of the existing Llangollen-Corwen railway and the need
for railway re-openings nationally is very high; and so therefore this is the
very best time ever to start pushing for a wider railway reopening from Ruabon
to link Llangollen and Corwen, and potentially Bala, all back to the mainline
railway network.
“For a Ruabon to Llangollen mainline railway reopening, this
would be anticipated to have a strong positive business case to benefit the
local economy.
“If the Llangollen Railway could become a Community Railway Partnership
with Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Wrexham Councils, then it could form a section
of a reopened mainline railway route through from Ruabon to Bala via Corwen.
“This would link the corridor of Llangollen, Corwen, and Bala to
the mainline railway network; benefiting the communities, businesses, tourism,
and existing Heritage Railway attractions along the route (and could
potentially link up with the Bala Lake Narrow Gauge Railway and perhaps in much
longer term even a connection from the Ffestiniog and Blaenau area, via
the Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog route).
“Therefore, we believe that obtaining the political backing and
funding to secure and protect the whole of the Ruabon to Bala route, reopen the
existing Llangollen Railway as a Community Railway Partnership line, and to
then restore a railway over the 5 mile disused track bed towards the main line
in Ruabon, and longer term restore the remaining 10 mile rail route from Corwen
towards Bala, would greatly secure the long-term future of the existing
Llangollen Railway as well as significantly enhancing public transport into all
of the local areas on the route in the Dee valley and Vale of Edyrnion, re-connecting
all the towns and villages giving local people better access to the outside
world, jobs, education, and also helping to bring in more tourists than
possible by road to further boost the local economy.”
* To see the petition, go to: https://www.change.org/p/mark-drakeford-please-support-and-fund-llangollen-railway-to-extend-it-to-ruabon-and-bala?recruiter=44863579&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=share_petition&recruited_by_id=abcd9530-747f-0130-2370-00221968d0e0&utm_content=fht-28674477-en-gb%3A6&use_react=false
