Heritage railway in Snowdonia unveils £4m extension plans

Bala Lake Narrow Gauge Railway has submitted an application to extend into the heart of the North Wales town of Bala.

At the moment, railway customers have to walk 15 minutes outside the town to catch the train at the Pen y Bont station. From there they travel 4.5 miles to Llanuwchylln by steam train.

The proposal is to extend the railway 1,200 metres into the town centre of Bala, adding a new station with associated parking, as well as a carriage storage and locomotive shed.

The station would be 7,930 sq ft according to plans drawn up by consultancy Caulmert. The carriage shed would be 3,767 sq ft and the locomotive shed 690 sq ft. Plans also include a 161 sq ft signal cabin.

The new station would be off Heol Aran with 12 parking spaces reserved for staff and three for disabled visitors. Other guests could park at a public car park across the road.

It is believed that extended the railway into Bala would not only improve access to the attraction, but encourage more people to spend time and money in the town.

The Bala Lake Railway carries an estimated 29,000 passengers a year and  has been operational since the 1970s.

Want to learn more? The project’s application reference number with Snowdonia National Park is NP5/53/576.