Project is full steam ahead (From Barry And District News)

Project is full steam ahead

THE latest rolling stock to be delivered to one of the UK's fastest growing heritage railway projects has become the first to use a newly-created main connection with the national network.

The arrival of six ex-Gatwick Express coaches at the Barry Island Railway last week was the culmination of a busy February for the project, which represents an integral part of the regeneration of the Greater Barry area.

The coaches' arrival followed recent funding applications to extend the railway by half a mile to Morrisons supermarket, as part of a wider scheme to extend the railway by a further 1.5 miles to a new Network Rail interchange/park and ride station at the Vale of Glamorgan Council's Dock Office.

It is hoped to have the initial extension open by the late Spring of 2006.

The "push-pull" rake of coaches were delivered by rail to the depot on Monday, February 20, via the new main line connection, which has been secured following a long period of negotiations with Network Rail.

It was the first use to be made of the connecting tracks since the Depot entered the Vale of Glamorgan's ownership five years ago.

It is hoped that the main line connection will be regularly used in the future by locally based and visiting preserved steam and diesel locomotives.

The new carriages are main line registered and will provide the Heritage centre with the resources to run tourist and special trains on the national network.

The Gatwick set of carriages were hauled into the Barry Island Railway by celebrity Electro-diesel loco 73136 Perseverance, the only preserved class 73 locomotive passed to operate on the national network.

It is owned by The Class 73 Preservation Group Ltd and takes its name from all the hard work required by the group to restore the loco to main line running condition.

The train was welcomed onto the site by Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet 0member for Regeneration, Tourism & Leisure, Mike Harvey, and the Vale of Glamorgan Assembly Member, Jane Hutt.

Cllr Harvey said the extension of the Barry Island Railway to Morrisons Supermarket would improve the links between Barry Island and the town.

"The new connection with the national rail network should also boost the town's tourism potential," he added.

Vale AM Jane Hutt said: "I am delighted to have a close working relationship with the Barry Island Railway, which is central to Barry's visitor attractions, providing recreation opportunities for local people as well as visitors."

Janet Small, the Barry Island Railway's General Manager, said the extension together with the opening of the main line connection and the acquisition of main line carriages effectively took Barry Island Railway into a new league.

"It's great that Wales at last has a preserved railway connected to the national network," she said.

"We'll be able to welcome in special trains to our railway from North Wales, London and other parts of England, bringing people to Barry who probably would not otherwise visit us."

John Dent, the Vale of Glamorgan Council's Senior Project Manager said that he was pleased to see a number of threads coming together.

"The synergy of these new initiatives will strengthen the Heritage Railway Project and, together with the partnership arrangements that we are developing, should ensure that Barry becomes a centre of excellence for rail heritage in Wales," he said.

The heritage railway initiatives in Barry have been supported by the Welsh Development Agency over the last ten years as part of the regeneration work of the Barry Action partnership.

Andrew Dakin, the WDA's Area Development Manager said the railway was an important element in the regeneration of the Greater Barry area.

"The railway helps to link Barry Island with the town across the Causeway," he said.

"The new extension takes it nearer to its eventual goal of reaching the proposed new Network Rail Interchange at Barry Dock Station.

The Gatwick set of coaches has been purchased from Porterbrook Ltd by Cambrian Transport Ltd, which has played a key role in the development of heritage railways in the town.

Managing director John Buxton said he was pleased to be supporting the regeneration of a town so well known for its railway history, and thanked Alex Wood, Steve Jacques and Steve Turner of Porterbrook and GB Railfreight for their help in arranging delivery of the stock.

"Both our new carriages and our existing Class 73 locomotive already resident at Barry could be useful on the new heritage railway extension as they can operate as a'push-pull' unit," he said.

"In addition we look forward to one day operating leisure services on the national network. With its pleasant location, large catchment area and excellent railway facilities, Barry is proving to be a great place to invest in."