Heritage railway boost in pipeline

A heritage steam railway could open in Chirk within years, bringing thousands of visitors to the Shropshire border town.

Plans to reopen part of the Glyn Valley Tramway, from a base at Chirk's mainline station have been revealed this week.

Together with the World Heritage bid for the Chirk and Pontycyllte aqueducts and nearby Chirk Castle, it could turn the area into a tourism magnet.

Chirk councillors have welcomed the recent news.

"If plans for the heritage railway go ahead it will be great news for the town and the surrounding area", said Councillor Mike Fennell.

"Along with the hopeful World Heritage bid for the Pontycyllte Aqueduct and Canal, it will mean more tourists coming to the area as well as train enthusiasts.

Built in 1873, the tramway took slate and minerals from the hills to Chirk and onto the cities via the canal and supplies and even Victorian tourists up the valley.

There are already plans to develop the former tramway, which closed in 1935, at its headquarters at the head of the valley in Glyn Ceriog.

Now the Glyn Valley Tramway Trust has revealed it has had top level talks over rebuilding part of the railway at Chirk.

Mr David Cooper, from the trust, said a planning application would soon be submitted to Wrexham County Borough Council and, subject to permission and funding, part of the railway could be operational by the end of 2011.