The Talyllyn Railway is delighted to announce that we have been awarded £300,000 from the Welsh Government Coastal Communities Fund Award.
This money will be used towards a £450,000 project for three new carriages. In turn this will allow us to take our 155 year old original carriages out of daily service in order to preserve as much of their historic fabric as possible.
All three of the new carriages will offer wheelchair accessible compartments, allowing more passengers with mobility issues to travel in comfort. Two of the carriages will also have upgraded first class accommodation.
Our original carriages will still be used for special trains, including wedding and driver experience trains. This will allow people to discover what it was like to ride on the Railway 150 years ago.
Stuart Williams, our General Manager, commented:
‘We are delighted to have received this major award from the Welsh Government Coastal Communities Fund at an important time when we are recovering from the effects of the pandemic. The Railway is planning a major new development in the next few years and this award is a major first step in this process. The Talyllyn Railway is unique in having its two original locomotives and all its original carriages in use, and this award will enable us to retain the carriages in as near their original condition as possible for many more years.’
It is planned that the new carriages will be built under contract in Wales. The first carriage should arrive in 2022, and the others in 2023 and 2024. This project forms an initial part of a multi-million pound scheme for the Railway including a new heritage facility at Wharf station, new volunteer accommodation and a new engineering works.
The Welsh Government Coastal Communities Fund encourages the economic development of coastal communities in Wales by awarding funding to create sustainable economic growth and jobs. The National Lottery Community Fund delivers the Coastal Communities Fund on behalf of the Welsh Government.
For further information about this press release please e-mail: [email protected] or phone 01654 710472.
