Beddgelert railway station

Infobox UK station
name = Beddgelert
other_name =


caption =
manager = Ffestiniog Railway
locale = Beddgelert
borough = Gwynedd
latitude = 53.01211
longitude = -4.10851
platforms = 2 (under construction)
lowusage0506 =
years = April 2007
events = Track laid through site
years1 =
events1 =

Beddgelert railway station is a new railway station due to be built sometime during 2006 and 2007 for the new Welsh Highland Railway. The station will be located on the site of the former WHR station, which had a passing loop and three sidings, evidence for which is still visible. The original line closed in 1937. The station is sited on an artificial shelf above the village of Beddgelert, famous for its mythical dog Gelert.

Construction started in December 2006, and the construction is hoped to be mostly completed before the major tourist season in Summer 2007. The station will have a large curved island platform, allowing for two trains to pass each other. There will be two small wooden shelters and a main station building. A large water tower is being constructed at the north end of the station. The original ashpit siding for the small loco stabling point on the west side of the station is also being restored and lengthened to provide for Gala trains. However, the legal terms of reconstruction have stated that the station is not permitted to open for passengers to board/alight until the completed WHR opens through to Porthmadog, scheduled for 2009.

The station is being built to serve the village of Beddgelert, as a secondary midway station, after Rhyd Ddu. Artists' impressions of a new station building here show it to be larger than the original building, and as such, it has caused controversy amongst some of the population of Beddgelert, who complained that it was far too big, and that it intruded upon the landscape. Other concerns have been raised, such as the increased traffic in the village, and the fear of parked cars, given that the village's public car park already overflows with tourists in Summer without the railway.

External links

* [http://whr.bangor.ac.uk The Welsh Highland Railway Project - official reconstruction site]
* [http://www.welshhighlandrailway.net Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon)]
* [http://www.isengard.co.uk/ Rebuilding The Welsh Highland Railway - an independent site updated almost daily]
* [http://www.welshhighlandrailway.net/timetable.htm Welsh Highland Railway Timetables]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/4415774.stm Station Building Controversy]
* [http://www.frheritage.org.uk/wiki/Beddgelert_(Station) FR Heritage Group Wiki]

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