The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway is about to start a massive project. The railway in Mid Wales has plans for a new workshop, shop, café and new Education Facilities. The aim of the new plans are to try and persuade more visitors to visit the line.

The ‘2020 Vision’ plan started last year, when, by chance, they purchased Industrial Units near to Llanfair Caereinion Station, which are currently being turned into a new workshop which is modern and will clear up space at Llanfair Station for their new ‘planned’ visitor centre.

What Does The General Manager Of The Welshpool & Llanfair Railway Say?

Charles Spence, who is General Manager at the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, said “We are making the railway a very attractive day out for people who come and visit, the 2020 project is to say we need to make quite a major capital investment. The first step is the new workshop, and we closed the deal to buy the buildings at the end of June. It doesn’t look like there has been much progress, but there has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make sure the plans are right. And while all this is going on, we still have a railway to run as well!”

“When the line closed, Welshpool was the operating end of the railway. Everything we have added since at Llanfair is because this has become the headquarters of the line. The workshop is now over 50 years old, its life expectancy has long passed. The cafe has room for about 36 people, but we have trains coming in with up to 150 people on. It’s all about growing business and generating tourism. The key line is big plans to move the railway forward.”

“We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t think it was achievable. There will be new buildings but we are anxious to preserve this environment and this atmosphere as it was in 1903. But with toilets – we draw the line at that!”

More improvements up the Welshpool line

The aim of this project is to also make the railway more user friendly. The railway welcomed 24,000 passengers in 2016 alone.

There is improvements planned at the other end of the line, at Welshpool Raven Square, and the railway is hoping that through legacies and grants they will be able to secure the money, but they will be appealing for donations to cover the £600,000 shortfall.

• Visit the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Website
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