Conwy Valley flooding (again) March 2019

[whole diary]

[welshman]

The line is closed again because the River Conwy has overflowed its banks.  The river was at record levels in some locations over the weekend.  The line runs next to or close to the river from Llandudno Junction to Betws-y-coed so is always vulnerable.  The adjoining A470 was closed for a time at the weekend.

Here are some Network Rail pictures.

[grahame]

Quoting myself from another thread .... "Wales Local Journeys" is a far more sensible place to discuss this 

We seem to have a spate of outages ... Appleby, Lamingon, Bleaneau Festniog ...

Lamington is due to re-open next week, I read, and the Bleaneau Ffestiniog line is rarely open for more than a few weeks at a time (probably a gross exaggeration, but that what it seems like).

Bleaneau Ffestiniog gone again ... http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/216433.aspx

Incident created: 17/03/2019 16:46
Last updated:  17/03/2019 19:04
Route affected: between Llandudno Junction / Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog
TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)(s) affected: Transport for Wales

Description

Flood water damaging the railway infrastructure between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog means trains are unable to run on this route until further notice. From Monday 18 March, buses will replace trains between these stations. The buses will be run by Llew Jones Coaches and will reflect the normal train timetable, subject to traffic conditions.

Additional information:

Network Rail have reported that, following the severe weather events during Friday 15 and Saturday 16 March, damage to the infrastructure in multiple locations along the Rheilffordd Dyffryn Conwy Valley Railway route means that significant repair work must be undertaken.

Full surveys of the whole route are ongoing today, Sunday 17 March. The line is expected to remain closed for several weeks. Once more accurate updates are received by Network Rail engineers, route disruption information will be updated to reflect a reopening date.

Customers with restricted mobility and bus accessibility restrictions [e.g. wheelchairs, mobility scooters] will be provided with special transport arrangements. We strongly advise that such customers contact Transport for Wales as far in advance of planned journeys as possible.

[welshman]

I searched but the search engine revealed nothing.  Move it if you want.

[grahame]

I searched but the search engine revealed nothing.  Move it if you want.

You have the right place ... I had the wrong one 

[welshman]

Forgiven. 

[grahame]

The line is closed again because the River Conwy has overflowed its banks.  The river was at record levels in some locations over the weekend.  The line runs next to or close to the river from Llandudno Junction to Betws-y-coed so is always vulnerable.  The adjoining A470 was closed for a time at the weekend.

Here are some Network Rail pictures.

And as if to demonstrate how our weather is getting more extreme ...

From The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Betws-y-Coed residents are evacuated after mountain fire

Residents have been evacuated after a mile-long mountain fire spread into forestry and threatened properties.
Efforts to assess the extent of the fire in Betws-y-Coed, Conwy county, are still ongoing, North Wales Fire and Rescue said

Kevin Roberts, assistant chief fire officer, said the force is urging visitors to the countryside to take extra care.
He said: "The dry weather has increased the risk of rural fires and we would like to thank those people notifying us of their controlled burning and for them acting in a safe and responsible manner.
"During drier periods, fires involving grass, bracken and heather can develop very quickly, particularly in raised winds, resulting in fires getting out of control and spreading to neighbouring properties or forestry, with the need for the fire and rescue service to be called out to extinguish them."

Betws-y-Coed is an intermediate station on the railway that's closed.  A National Rail update (on 27th, 10 days after the line closed) still says

The line is expected to remain closed for several weeks as significant repair work must be undertaken. Once more accurate updates are received by Network Rail engineers, disruption information will be updated to reflect a reopening date.

[grahame]

Drone footage from Network Rail on the Daily Post website.

In other news from the Conwy Valley line, North Wale Live suggests

The train station at Blaenau Ffestiniog should be moved to a new site closer to the A470, to accommodate more tourists.

That is the suggestion put forward by the chairman of the Ffestiniog Railway company, as Transport for Wales (TfW) looks for ideas on how to spend £1 million on improve the existing town centre station.

[grahame]

A clue on how long the closure will be ...

From Transport Xtra

Transport for Wales Rail Services has revised its plans for deploying hybrid trains in North Wales after flooding damaged the Conwy Valley line between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog, where trial running had been planned. The line is out of use until mid-summer, and the diesel-battery trains from Vivarail will initially operate on the Wrexham-Bidston line instead.

[phile]

A clue on how long the closure will be ...

From Transport Xtra

Transport for Wales Rail Services has revised its plans for deploying hybrid trains in North Wales after flooding damaged the Conwy Valley line between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog, where trial running had been planned. The line is out of use until mid-summer, and the diesel-battery trains from Vivarail will initially operate on the Wrexham-Bidston line instead.

Network Rail are hoping to re-open the line as far as Llanrwst in time for the National Eisteddfod at the start of August

[grahame]

Network Rail are hoping to re-open the line as far as Llanrwst in time for the National Eisteddfod at the start of August

And looking even better ... https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/216433.aspx

The line is expected to reopen in phases - between Llandudno Junction and North Llanrwst on Thursday 18 July, and then the full route to Blaenau Ffestiniog on Wednesday 24 July. These dates are subject to change.

[grahame]

Open, full length - see North Wales Pioneer

THE first trains have run the entire length of the reopened Conwy Valley line which was extensively damaged by flooding in the Spring.

Initially the line reopened between Llandudno Junction and Llanrwst, but on Wednesday July 24 the Llanrwst to Blaneau Ffestiniog section also opened. The reopening is in time for the National Eisteddfod which will be held in Llanrwst between Friday August 2 and Saturday August 10.

Mr Ioan Jenkins, Development Director for Transport for Wales, travelled on the train last week to Llanrwst and back to ensure everything ran smoothly, said this was the first time he had travelled on the line and was struck by the beauty of the countryside.

Is that in bold an interesting admission, or a natural lack of previous use?

[grahame]

Open, full length - see North Wales Pioneer

Next! : - from National Rail

Incident created 21/08/2019 19:23
Last updated 21/08/2019 19:42

Description

Network Rail have reported that a landslip within Blaenau Ffestiniog Tunnel has resulted in large boulders blocking the line.

How is this affecting the train service?

Train are suspended between North Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog, until such time as the landslip debris is cleared, repairs completed and the tunnel workings made safe.

Specialist tunnelling engineers will arrive on site later tonight for a full inspection of the incident. Further information will made available as soon as it is received from Network Rail.

Keeping you on the move:
Wednesday evening - Rail replacement road transport is operating between North Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog
Thursday - Buses have been requested but not yet confirmed. Please check back later.

[phile]

Open, full length - see North Wales Pioneer

Next! : - from National Rail

Incident created 21/08/2019 19:23
Last updated 21/08/2019 19:42

Description

Network Rail have reported that a landslip within Blaenau Ffestiniog Tunnel has resulted in large boulders blocking the line.

How is this affecting the train service?

Train are suspended between North Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog, until such time as the landslip debris is cleared, repairs completed and the tunnel workings made safe.

Specialist tunnelling engineers will arrive on site later tonight for a full inspection of the incident. Further information will made available as soon as it is received from Network Rail.

Keeping you on the move:
Wednesday evening - Rail replacement road transport is operating between North Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog
Thursday - Buses have been requested but not yet confirmed. Please check back later.

Re-opened this morning.     Was only a bag of aggregates,

[welshman]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) report says it was a bag of bolts!