THE completion of the £30m restoration of the iconic Barmouth Viaduct will be celebrated today after a painstaking four-year programme of work to carefully restore the 156-year-old, grade II* listed structure to its former glory.
Network Rail, representatives of the community, rail industry partners and the local council will join Wales Office minister - and Powys MP - Fay Jones for the unveiling of a plaque to mark the milestone.
The Cambrian line fully reopened to train services on Saturday, December 2nd after teams from Network Rail and Griffiths worked seven days a week during a 13-week closure to allow the final stages of the restoration to be safely completed.
Originally constructed by the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway in 1867, the Grade II* listed 770m structure is the longest viaduct in Wales and the longest wooden railway bridge in Britain.
When restoration began in 2020, Network Rail engineers found the 156-year-old bridge to be in a much worse condition than originally anticipated.
Many of the timber elements had decayed significantly and a large portion of the metallic elements had corroded.
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The programme was planned to make sure it wouldn’t threaten the structure’s industrial heritage, with components replaced on a ‘like for like’ basis to retain its appearance.
Realising the impact that a long-term closure of the line would have on the community, the work was purposely spread over several years with four shorter closures.
This autumn, after strengthening the north abutments and upgrading additional timber elements, the team focused on the metallic structure, successfully completing the intricate task of moving two 160-tonne spans. With one newly fabricated span weighing the same as a blue whale, teams used a total of 44 jacks – ranging from 20 to 100 tonnes capacity – as well as six rail trailers to carry out the technical move.
Once the restoration work was close to completion, work began to renew 297m of track near the toll house on the northern side and replace 1,100m3 of ballast (track stone) to ensure the safety of services crossing the viaduct over the Afon Mawddach.
Network Rail’s route director for Wales and Borders Nick Millington said: “I’m delighted that we could be joined today by the Wales Office minister to celebrate the restoration of this iconic piece of Welsh railway heritage .
“It’s a fantastic achievement for the teams who have worked tirelessly in all weathers to complete the job, which will enable the viaduct to safely carry rail services for many years to come. We hope it will encourage more people to travel by train to see this beautiful part of Wales, supporting the local economy and our aim of decarbonisation."
Ms Jones said: “The Barmouth Viaduct is an iconic part of Wales’ railway heritage and I am delighted that the UK Government has made this £30m investment in its restoration.
“Together with the planned £1bn electrification of the North Wales Main Line, £50m for Cardiff cross rail and other investments from the South Wales Valleys to Aberystwyth, the UK Government is delivering improvements in rail infrastructure and improving journeys for passengers in every part of Wales.”
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