View source for Conwy Valley line

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2018}}
{{Short description|Railway line in North Wales}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name                            = Conwy Valley line
| image                           = Blaenau Ffestiniog railway station (7818).jpg
| image_width                     = 275px
| caption                         = {{rws|Blaenau Ffestiniog}}, the interchange between Conwy Valley trains and the narrow gauge [[Ffestiniog Railway]]
| other_name                      = Conwy Valley Railway<br />Rheilffordd Dyffryn Conwy
| native_name                     = {{native_name|cy|Llinell Dyffryn Conwy}}
| type                            = Heavy Rail
| locale                          = [[Conwy]]<br>[[Gwynedd]]
| start                           = {{rws|Llandudno}}
| end                             = {{rws|Blaenau Ffestiniog}}
| stations                        = 13
| open                            = 1879
| owner                           = [[Network Rail]]
| operator                        = [[Transport for Wales Rail]]
| character                       = [[Rural]]
| stock                           = {{Ubl|'''Current'''|[[British Rail Class 197]]|
'''Previous'''|[[British Rail Class 150]] ''Sprinter''|[[British Rail Class 153]] ''Super&nbsp;Sprinter''}}
| linelength                      = {{convert|30.8|mi|km}}
| tracks                          = 2 ({{rws|Llandudno}}–{{rws|Llandudno Junction}})<br>1 ({{rws|Llandudno Junction}}–{{rws|North Llanrwst}})<br>2 (Passing loop at {{rws|North Llanrwst}})<br>1 ({{rws|North Llanrwst}}–{{rws|Blaenau Ffestiniog}})
| gauge                           = {{track gauge|uksg|allk=on}}
| electrification                 = None
| old_gauge                       = 
| speed                           = 
| map                             = {{switcher
| [[File:Conwy Valley line.png|275px]]<br />([[:commons:File:Conwy Valley line.png|Click to expand]])
| Show map
| {{Conwy Valley Line|inline=y}}
| Show route diagram
}}
}}
The '''Conwy Valley line''' ({{Langx|cy|Llinell Dyffryn Conwy}})<ref>{{cite web |title=TfW Network Map |url=https://tfw.wales/sites/default/files/2021-10/TfW_Network_Map_Web_011021.pdf |publisher=[[Transport for Wales]] |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> is a [[railway line]] in [[North West Wales|north-west]] [[Wales]]. It runs from [[Llandudno]] via [[Llandudno Junction]] ({{langx|cy|Cyffordd Llandudno}}) to [[Blaenau Ffestiniog]], and was originally part of the [[London and North Western Railway]], being opened in stages to 1879. The primary purpose of the line was to carry slate from the Ffestiniog quarries to a specially built quay at [[Deganwy]] (occasionally referred to as St George's Dock) for export by sea. The line also provided goods facilities for the market town of [[Llanrwst]], and via the extensive facilities at Betws-y-Coed on the [[London]] to [[Holyhead]] [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5 turnpike road]] it served many isolated communities in [[Snowdonia]] and also the developing tourist industry.
Although only a little over {{convert|27|mi|km}} between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog, the journey takes over one hour, largely due to the sinuous and steeply graded nature of the route taken (particularly south of Betws-y-Coed). Most of the stations along the line are treated as [[request stop]]s.

== History ==
The first section from Llandudno Junction to Llanrwst (now called [[North Llanrwst railway station|North Llanrwst]]) was built as the [[Conway and Llanrwst Railway]] and opened in 1863. The [[LNWR]] took over in 1863 and opened the extension to Betws-y-Coed in 1868.{{sfn|Baughan|1980|page=117}}

The next extension was to Blaenau Ffestiniog to access the output of the large [[slate]] quarries there. At first the LNWR proposed a {{track gauge|2 ft|lk=on}} [[narrow gauge]] railway via the steeply graded [[Lledr Valley]] to Blaenau Ffestiniog, to be called the "Bettws & Festiniog Railway"; authorisation was sought in November 1870.<ref>{{Cite magazine| url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/23680/page/4988| page=4988| issue=23680| date=18 November 1870| magazine=London Gazette| title=London and North Western Railway (Additional Powers)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| newspaper=The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard| title=London and North Western Railway (Additional Powers) |page=2 |date=26 November 1870}}</ref> After construction began, it was decided that the extension would be built to [[standard gauge]], allowing through running of trains. Between 1874 and 1879 the [[railway tunnel]] underneath [[Moel Dyrnogydd]] was bored, and in July 1879 a terminus was initially opened by the tunnel entrance. The line was subsequently extended by the best part of a mile to a terminus in the town, which opened 31 March 1881.{{sfn|Baughan|1980|pages=128–130}}<ref>{{cite news| newspaper=The North Wales Express| title=Blaenau Festiniog |page=5 |date=1 April 1881}}</ref>

Blaenau Ffestiniog's other [[standard gauge]] railway, the [[Bala and Ffestiniog Railway]], was closed to all traffic in 1961, and a portion was flooded in the creation of the [[Llyn Celyn]] reservoir. A rail connection was desired for the [[nuclear power station]] under construction at [[Trawsfynydd]], and a connecting line was built from Blaenau Ffestiniog North to the site of the demolished Blaenau Ffestiniog Central station for freight use. With the reconstruction of the [[Ffestiniog Railway]], passenger services were relocated to a [[Blaenau Ffestiniog railway station#1982 consolidation|new joint station]] on the site of the old Central station in 1982. Regular freight traffic to [[Trawsfynydd nuclear power station]] ceased in 1995, and the power station is being decommissioned.

The line's proximity to the [[River Conwy]] at its northern end has led to periodic problems with flooding over the years. In 2004, 2005 and 2019 floods resulted in prolonged closures whilst the trackbed and embankments were rebuilt; the 2004 floods put the line out of action from early February until 22 May that year.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.penmorfa.com/Conwy/floods_Feb_04.html| title=Flooding closed the Conwy Valley line for 3 months| website=Penmorfa.com: The Conway Valley Line| access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

The line was again closed from 27 December 2015 for seven weeks, after the formation was damaged by floodwater in more than 100 places following heavy rain on Boxing Day.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/conwy-valley-line-1200-tonnes-10865845| title=Conwy Valley line had 1,200 tonnes of material removed from railway during repair work| last=Davidson| first=Tom| website=Daily Post| date=10 February 2016| access-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

A further closure occurred between February and April 2017 after [[Storm Doris]], when a tree fell on the track near Pont-y-Pant. Engineers had to move over 300 tonnes of rock and fallen vegetation during the recovery work.<ref>{{cite web| title=Conwy Valley Line set for mid-April reopening following Doris damage| url=http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/conwy-valley-line-set-for-mid-april-reopening-following-doris-damage-| website=Railway Technology Magazine| access-date=28 March 2017}}</ref>

In March 2019 the line closed again due to severe damage to infrastructure caused by [[Storm Gareth]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2019-03-25/flood-damaged-railway-could-be-closed-for-months/| title=Flood damaged Conwy Valley line could be closed for months| website=itv| date=25 March 2019| access-date=26 March 2019}}</ref> The railway line reopened on 24 July 2019, in time for the [[National Eisteddfod of Wales|National Eisteddfod]] near [[Llanrwst]].<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/216433.aspx| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629150843/https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/216433.aspx| archive-date=June 29, 2019| title=Service Alteration Details| website=National Rail| access-date=2019-06-29}}</ref> 

[[Storm Ciara]]'s heavy rainfall on 8–9 February 2020 once again damaged the trackbed near the Conwy estuary north of Llanrwst, closing the line yet again. Ballast was washed away in several sections.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2020-02-11/extensive-damage-again-to-conwy-valley-railway/| title='Extensive damage' again to Conwy Valley railway| website=ITV| date=11 February 2020| access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref> The line reopened on 28 September following repair work and additional mitigation work in vulnerable locations. Progress of the repair work was partly affected by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-54300025| title=Conwy Valley rail line reopens after £2.2m flood repairs| date=28 September 2020| website=BBC News}}</ref>
 
The Ffestiniog tunnel has also been closed on two separate occasions to repair water damage to the tunnel roof and a subsequent rockfall.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/17375796.railway-services-between-blaenau-ffestiniog-and-betwys-y-coed-suspended-by-rock-fall/| title=Railway services between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Betws-y-Coed suspended by rock fall| last=George| first=Allan| website=North Wales Pioneer| date=22 January 2019| access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/conwy-valley-railway-line-tunnel-13812033| title=Pictures show extent of damage found by mining experts brought in to investigate Conwy Valley line tunnel| website=North Wales Live| date=25 October 2017| access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref>

== Modern services ==
The line from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau is single track, and includes the [[Tunnels in the United Kingdom#Wales|longest single track railway tunnel]] in the [[United Kingdom]] (over {{convert|2.2|mi|km|disp=or}}).  The line's summit {{convert|790|ft|m}} above sea level is located midway through the tunnel and the gradients either side of it are as steep as 1-in-47 (2.1%) on the southbound ascent through Pont-y-pant and 1-in-43 (2.3%) on the climb out of the terminus at Blaenau for northbound trains.<ref name =CVL>{{cite web| url=http://www.penmorfa.com/Conwy/five.htm| title=The Conwy Valley Line – Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Ffestiniog Railway – Page 1| website=Penmorfa.com| access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref>

Between Llandudno Junction and Llandudno the service uses the double track [[Llandudno branch line]] from the [[North Wales Coast Line]]. The fully signalled [[passing loop]] at North Llanrwst is the last remaining between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog and trains on the branch must stop at the [[signal box]] there to exchange [[Token (railway signalling)|tokens]] for the single line sections on either side.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.penmorfa.com/Conwy/two.htm| title=Dolgarrog and Llanrwst| website=penmorfa.com| access-date=2010-06-08}}</ref>

The line is currently served by 6 trains per day in both directions from Monday to Saturday between [[Llandudno railway station|Llandudno]] and [[Blaenau Ffestiniog railway station|Blaenau Ffestiniog]] (and vice versa), with the first two southbound services of the day starting (and first northbound service turning back) at [[Llandudno Junction railway station|Llandudno Junction]] and terminating in Blaenau Ffestiniog. The service is reduced to 4 trains per day in both directions on Sundays; this service now operates all year round, rather than in summer only as it did up until the winter 2019 timetable change.<ref>{{NRtimes|December 2019|102}}</ref>

The train service is operated by [[Transport for Wales Rail]] and is being marketed as the '''Conwy Valley Railway''' ({{langx|cy|Rheilffordd Dyffryn Conwy}}). A feature of the service is the availability on Conwy Valley trains as well as on local buses in Snowdonia of the new "Tocyn Taith" day ticket.

From 20 May 2007, Concessionary Travel Pass holders resident in Conwy and Gwynedd have been able to travel free of charge on the Conwy Valley Railway line between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog, as well as between Llandudno Junction and Llandudno on all Transport for Wales Rail services, as a result of funding provided by the [[Welsh Government]].

A 2008 proposal would have seen the line upgraded to take slate from Blaenau Ffestiniog to the coast. The proposal, supported by [[Gwynedd Council]], could have created 50 jobs in Blaenau Ffestiniog.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/7724225.stm| website=BBC News| title=Campaign to improve railway link| date=13 November 2008| access-date=28 October 2015}}</ref>

In 2013/14 an estimated 116,500 passenger journeys were made on the line, excluding exits and entries at the main line stations of [[Llandudno Junction railway station|Llandudno Junction]], [[Deganwy railway station|Deganwy]] and [[Llandudno railway station|Llandudno]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/station-usage-estimates| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107032845/http://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/station-usage-estimates| archive-date=November 7, 2015| title=Estimates of station usage|website=Office of Rail and Road| access-date=28 October 2015}}</ref> This was a small increase compared with the figure of 112,134 in 2012/13. Figures show that [[Blaenau Ffestiniog railway station|Blaenau Ffestiniog]] is the busiest of the line's stations with 44,828 passengers in 2013/14, followed by [[Betws-y-Coed railway station|Betws-y-Coed]] with 35,400. Other stations have very low footfall with [[Dolgarrog railway station|Dolgarrog]] attracting just 828 passengers in 2013/14.{{needs update|date=March 2024}}

In October 2018 operations transferred to the new franchise holder [[KeolisAmey Wales]], who announced that they would use a [[British Rail Class 230]] D-Train on the line in late 2019, replacing the [[British Rail Class 150]] then used on the line; however, this change never materialised. The franchise was nationalised in February 2021 and, from the end of 2022, [[British Rail Class 197]] two-car units were used on the line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First brand new Transport for Wales trains unveiled |url=https://news.tfw.wales/news/first-brand-new-transport-for-wales-trains-unveiled |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=Transport For Wales News |language=english}}</ref>

In March 2019 the route was temporarily closed following multiple washouts along the route inflicted by [[Storm Gareth]]. The damage from the storm had left sections of the line suspended in the air as the embankments had been washed away, and other sections were under water, which made the route unsafe for rail traffic.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/pictures-show-significant-damage-train-15990628| title=Images reveal 'significant' damage to train line shut after severe flooding| first=Sarah| last=Hodgson| date=29 March 2019| website=NorthWalesLive}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.conwyvalleyrailway.co.uk/2019/03/22/fascinating-drone-footage-reveals-extensive-damage-on-conwy-valley-line/| title=Fascinating drone footage reveals extensive damage on Conwy Valley Line| date=March 22, 2019| website=Conwy Valley and North West Wales Coast Community Rail Partnership}}</ref> Following repair work, the line from Llandudno Junction to North Llanwrst was re-opened on 24 July 2019; the rest of the route would reopen in August. 

===Community rail===
This is designated as a [[community rail]] partnership.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.acorp.uk.com/Assets/ACoRP%20summary%20map%20v4.pdf |title=ACORP Summary map |publisher=Association of Community Rail Partnerships |date=28 July 2014 |access-date=28 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118174638/http://www.acorp.uk.com/Assets/ACoRP%20summary%20map%20v4.pdf |archive-date=18 November 2015}}</ref>

===Steam workings===
[[File:61994 The Great Marquess resting in Blaenau Ffestiniog.jpg|225px|thumb|right|LNER K4 no 61994 The Great Marquess in the loop at Blaenau Ffestiniog after arriving with "The Welsh Mountaineer" on Tue 29 July 2014.]]

Since the end of mainline steam running on the British national rail network in the 1960s, the Conwy line has seen occasional runs by preserved or restored steam locomotives, the first of these dating to 1998. Owing to steep gradients, these have often been limited in the number of coaches that may be hauled along the route.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.penmorfa.com/Conwy/steam1.html| title=Steam to Blaenau Ffestiniog in 1998 and 1999| website=penmorfa.com}}</ref>

[[File:48151 & 45690 Leander parked up side by side in Blaenau Ffestiniog.jpg|225px|thumb|right|48151 & 45690 Leander parked up side by side after arriving with "The Conwy Quest" railtour on Sat 3 August 2019.]]

To mark the full reopening of the line following damage from [[Storm Gareth]] in 2019, [[Transport for Wales Rail]] in co-operation with [[West Coast Railways]] ran a train called "The Conwy Quest" from Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog via Llandudno Junction.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://tfwrail.wales/the-conwy-quest/| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925094512/https://tfwrail.wales/the-conwy-quest/| archive-date=September 25, 2020| title=The Conwy Quest Railtour, Sat 3rd Aug 2019| website=Transport for Wales}}</ref>

==Route==

The following towns and villages are served by the line:
[[File:LlanrwstP6073098X.JPG|225px|thumb|right|North Llanrwst station platforms – railcar leaving for Blaenau Ffestiniog]]

[[File:Lledr150.JPG|225px|thumb|right|150253 heading into the Lledr Valley in the Summer of 2007. ]]
*[[Llandudno]]
*[[Deganwy]]
*[[Llandudno Junction]]
**for [[North Wales Coast Line]]
*[[Glan Conwy]]
*[[Tal-y-Cafn]]
*[[Dolgarrog]]
*[[Llanrwst]] (for [[Trefriw]])
*[[Betws-y-Coed]]
*[[Pont-y-Pant railway station]]
*[[Dolwyddelan]]
*[[Roman Bridge railway station]]
*[[Blaenau Ffestiniog]]
**for [[Ffestiniog Railway]]

The original line terminated at the North Western station (where there were extensive slate yards) to the west of Blaenau Ffestiniog town centre. However, following the closure and removal of a section of the former [[Great Western Railway]] line from [[Bala, Gwynedd|Bala]], a short section of new railway was built alongside the Ffestiniog Railway Company's narrow gauge line in order to connect the Conwy Valley line with the isolated section of the GWR line, which had been retained to serve the nuclear power station at [[Trawsfynydd]]. Years later a new Blaenau Ffestiniog station was constructed in the centre of the town. Beyond the new station, the line was used only for goods traffic connected with Trawsfynydd, although occasional special passenger trains have been run at times. In recent years, the traffic from Trawsfynydd has ceased completely (the last charter special ran in October 1998) and the line has been disconnected from the Conwy Valley line just outside Blaenau Ffestiniog station.

There are connections at Llandudno Junction with the [[North Wales Coast Line]] (the main line between [[London]] and [[Holyhead]]) and at Blaenau Ffestiniog with the [[Ffestiniog Railway]] to [[Porthmadog]].

{{clear}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Sources ===
* {{cite book |last=Baughan |first=Peter. E. |date=1980 |title=A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain |volume=11 North and Mid Wales |location=Newton Abbot |publisher=David & Charles |isbn=0-7153-7850-3 }}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine|title=How green is the valley to Blaenau!|first=John|last=Hunt|magazine=[[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]]|issue=336|publisher=EMAP Apex Publications|date=29 July – 11 August 1998|pages=24–30|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.conwyvalleyrailway.co.uk/ Conwy Valley Railway – official site]
*[https://www.scenicrailbritain.com/lines/conwy-valley-line// Scenic Rail Britain: Conwy Valley Line]

{{Historical Welsh railway companies}}
{{Railway lines in Wales}}
{{Conwy Valley}}

[[Category:Railway lines in Wales]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Gwynedd]]
[[Category:Transport in Conwy County Borough]]
[[Category:Community railway lines in Wales]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1879]]