The first phase of a major ten-year development plan for the historic Vale of Rheidol Railway is now underway following support from the Welsh Assembly Government.
Funding of £300,000 from the Assembly Government will enable the Aberystwyth based steam railway to embark on a £1.1million investment programme – the largest project it has undertaken to date.
Plans include the construction of an 1800 sq metre workshop for the restoration of its historically important collection of locomotives.
It will also be a focus for training and skills development with the aim of becoming an engineering training centre for apprentices to gain the range of specialist skills to maintain a heritage railway.
The investment will safeguard eight jobs and create a further four new engineering posts and four other jobs on the Railway
The long-term plans are to expand and develop the railway to maximise its potential as a key tourist centre attracting enthusiasts from all over the UK and further afield with a range of facilities including a museum, shops, café as well as the engineering training facility.
The gap funding provided by the Assembly Government will enable the railway to access £600,000 from the Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust with the remaining money coming from the railway, a charitable company. The project is supported by Ceredigion County Council, which helped provide the site.
Robert Gambrill, Secretary of the Phyllis Rampton Trust, described it as great news for the Vale of Rheidol Railway enabling plans that have been in the pipeline for the past ten years to get underway.
“Part of the workshop will be used to train youngsters in heritage skills and we will use the engines as the training tools and plan to build up a fully trained and skilled workforce. The intention is to offer apprenticeships and create long term jobs and help boost the local economy.”
On a visit to the Railway, Lesley Griffiths, Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, welcomed the opportunity it presented to promote and foster engineering and technical skills.
“The Assembly Government is committed to promote the take up of science, technology, engineering and mathematics – subjects that are vital for the development of a successful and vibrant knowledge based economy.
“The focus on training and skills, particularly the plans to introduce apprenticeships, is very welcome and will open up a range of new career opportunities for young people in the area.”
The historic railway, built to transport lead ore and then tourists dates back to 1902 and has the distinction of being the last steam railway in the UK owned by British Rail until its privatisation in 1989.
It owns one of the most historically important collections of narrow gauge trains in the world and includes locomotives from every continent in the world representing an extensive range of engine types.
The Railway has 40 engines and 14 carriages in its prized collection but the lack of workshop facilities mean they have had to be restored at centres outside of Wales.
Neil Thompson Railway manager explained that as it can cost in the region of £350K to restore a locomotive it represents a significant loss to the local economy.
“It also means that the skills we need are not being developed locally which is why we are very keen to ensure the workshop will become a key centre for skills training. This is an extremely important project for the Railway which will, for the first time, be able to carry out its own restoration work.”
Already a popular tourist attraction, the Railway carries 35,000 passengers annually on the run between the town centre and Devils Bridge. It currently operates between Easter and October but has potential to extend the season.
The Railway has had to spend considerable sums of money to upgrade and improve the infrastructure and has spent more than £2million to date.
