AMLWCH TO LLANGEFNI RAILWAY LINE



SANTA CLAUS MAY RIDE ON THE RAILWAY FROM AMLWCH ONCE AGAIN

September 25 2010


Long gone are those railway days when the children from Llanerchymedd used to ride outside the Amlwch train to the grammar school in Llangefni.

It’s also quite a long time since I saw Santa Claus ride into town on one of the very last trains from Amlwch to Llangefni Railway Station.


Mind you, it was a terrifying sight for a 5 year old to be confronted with Santa for the first time. I didn’t attend the present giving in the Institute because I was too frightened. Sometimes fantasy figures shouldn’t be met. They only disappoint.

Anglesey County Council has now cleared away one of the major obstacles to Santa’s return. The County Council's support for the project to open the line to Amlwch comes as delightful news for Anglesey Central Railway supporters.




I’m certain you’ll be thinking, “Why have councillors changed their mind from the decision in March 2007 to back a cycle/pedestrian/bridleway route between Amlwch and Llangefni?”

One significant reason is the World Heritage Site at Amlwch’s Parys Copper Mountain; site of the giant copper works on the mountain above the town. Add to this the attraction of proposed developments in Amlwch Port.

Copper Mountain has massive potential as a major tourist attraction on Anglesey. It is already a highly visited area of Anglesey and the attraction of a journey through the beautiful rural heart of the island on a steam train would be almost impossible atraction to miss.

With the serious challenges confronting the Island, the County Council has committed itself to the development of its outstanding tourist assets.




Walter Glyn Davies speaking on behalf of Anglesey Central Railway, emphasised that this change of mind by the County Council meant that they could now commence lease negotiations with Network Rail with confidence.

In the past, not having the local authority’s backing meant that it was essentially a pointless exercise for Network Rail to even enter into a conversation in the knowledge that Council backing was unlikely.

County Councillor Cliff Everett pointed out that, “We could even look at match-funding for work on the line from the Anglesey Charitable Trust (Shell Money).”

Further, the Welsh Assembly has already shown interest in developing this abandoned rail track with its consideration of opening up a commercial line between Llangefni and Bangor.

How much ‘politics’ was involved there is a moot point; however, other than money (probably CFAP) for a feasibility study, the Assembly would have little input other than encouragement.

Mind you, one could also point to politics once again as a Welsh Assembly Election is due in 2001.





Let us hope that the ambition and enthusiasm of Amlwch Port’s County Councillor, Mr Dylan Jones is realised. Councillor Jones said, “We have a sleeping giant in Amlwch and the railway line could open it up.

Although financing could be an issue, a challenge indeed, Planning permission shouldn’t necessarily be a problem, as it will continue to be what it always has been: a railway line.

I am certain that the members of Anglesey Central railway will already have been approached by councillors for Llanerchymedd, which used to have its own railway station.

Not much in Llanerchymedd really, but the smart cookies must surely be thinking about making it a pick-up/drop-off point for eager cyclists in the heart of the Island. Local retail outlets would surely benefit. It gets better the more one investigates the potential for this project.

BBC Wales Report on Amlwch-Llangefni Line.




What’s to the north of Llanerchymedd but the old Shell Site at Rhosgoch? A massive 200 acre site that is ripe for development. A spur line in the Rhosybol area could bring a rail line right into its heart.

You’ll remember that Rhosgoch had been considered as a potential location for Anglesey Prison following a Government search for new prison-build in 2009. Sadly that project fell away, despite strong lobbying by Anglesey County Council and the Island’s Member of Parliament, Mr Albert Owen.

All the above to one side, the line was last used commercially in 1993 by the Ethyl Octel bromide factory in Amlwch which is the only use it saw after Dr Beeching closed it in 1964.




Which brings me back to Santa’s last journey to Llangefni on the train from Amlwch. Let’s hope that he’ll be the first visitor.

I’ll attend the present-giving this time, though not in the Institute, because that’ll be converted to flats by then, very sadly.




ARE YOU IN FAVOUR OF THE PROPOSAL TO RE-OPEN THE LINE FROM AMLWCH TO LLANGEFNI?


Contact Anglesey-Hidden-Gem.Com

Get in touch if you've got a thought or an Anglesey experience to share or a question to ask. Maybe you just want to share information or Just Want To Say Hello!

All you need to do is fill in the form below and I'll get in touch with you as soon as I possibly can.

Visitor Questions, Comments, and Thoughts...

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Rejuvination of Amlwch and Anglesey 
Dear Wil Have any of our Councilors visited towns which have train services which are run by enthusiasts? They are vibriant and commercialy sucessful. …

Click here to write your own.



Return from Amlwch-Llangefni Railway Line to ANGLESEY LATEST NEWS.

Go to HOME PAGE.


New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Share this page:

What’s this?

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.


Books by William Jones, author of this web site.

Now in Paperback


Have a look inside

.

Anglesey Award Winning Beaches


LOVELY ANGLESEY WALKS & AMBLES
CLICK HERE

Anglesey Award Winning Beaches


ANGLESEY'S AWARD
WINNING BEACHES
CLICK HERE


Recent Articles

  1. North Stack Fog Warning Station. Beautiful Walk. Fascinating History

    Dec 22, 23 12:35 PM

    north-stack-fog-signal-station-350px
    North Stack Fog Signal Station, just south of the Port of Holyhead, offers astonishing coastal walk and beautiful views of rugged Anglesey coastline.

    Read More

  2. Holyhead Breakwater Country Park. Award Winning Anglesey Green Space

    Dec 22, 23 12:31 PM

    breakwater-park-quarrying-mills-350px
    Holyhead Breakwater Country Park. Astonishing coastal beauty. Award Winning Anglesey Green Flag Country Park. A superb green space for family fun and walks

    Read More

  3. White Beach. Excellent bleached pebble beach, Crazy Horses and Nervy Driving

    Dec 08, 23 05:43 AM

    White Beach Opposite View
    White Beach really, really is a hidden gem. By that, I mean it is really, really well hidden. Dinner plate pebbles, nice picnics, CRAZY HORSES and some pretty good fishing.

    Read More

Never EVER Stop Chasing Your Dreams.

Retire To Something




ANGLESEY
MONOPOLY


SBI! Quick Tour



Reviews 160x600



BlockBuilder 2