Trains set for return to Oswestry
Wednesday 20th April 2011, 1:39PM BST.
Trains will once again be running from Oswestry Station on Friday for the first time since 1967.
Organisers say the new Cambrian Heritage Railways service may only be half a mile in length but represents a huge step forward in the eventual aim of seeing trains operating from the main line in Gobowen, as far as Llanyblodwel – a distance of eight-and-a-half miles.
The first stretch of fully restored line runs from Oswestry’s Victorian Station Building to the Middleton Road Bridge in the town.
Nigel Davies, chairman of Cambrian Heritage Railways, said: “This is a momentous day for both the Cambrian Heritage Railways and Oswestry itself.
“Everyone can now come along and enjoy all the hard work that has been on-going almost out of site behind the Station Building over the past 12 months or so.
“It is a testament to the voluntary effort as well as that of our Imagematch-sponsored workforce and something they should all be justly proud.”
Passenger services from Oswestry ceased as a part of the Beeching Cuts of the mid 1960s and the platform at the station was partly demolished in the late 1980s to allow freight traffic to pass through. This ended in 1988 and the line has remained out of use ever since.
Mr Davies said: “We are very lucky here to have the experience of operating our heritage line at Llynclys and all that experience has helped tremendously. Trains will be running as usual throughout the year.”
Services will begin from 11am on Good Friday through to 4pm at both Oswestry and Llynclys. The town’s Railway Museum, which has recently undergone a revamp, will also be open between 10am and 4pm.
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As one of the ever-decreasing number of people who ever caught a train from Oswestry all I can say is “Hooray!”.
Back in the day (1960′s) they should have rerouted the Shrewsbury – Chester line to go through Oswestry instead of having everyone treck out to Gobowen. I bet they’d have had to run the line through some Councillor’s farm to do that though.
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Great news for Cambrian Railway, and also for the town and when the can get up and running to gobowen, that will be a really great achievement after so long. Also I must mention the stirling work that the young folk have been doing who have been helping out to get the platform to the stage that it is now. well done a great job done, should be proud of yourselves.
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