North Cheshire The rail users group which is campaigning for restoration of the former direct Liverpool-North Wales service is pleased that after years of hard work, Helsby station has won the best unstaffed station award. Weekly work parties have taken place to restore the four-platform station to its former glory. The group is hoping the Frodsham Junction to Halton Junction line will be restored to bi-directional running.
Welsh Highland Assembly member and MP Dafydd Wigley celebrated the official opening of the newly restored Welsh Highland Railway from Dinas to Waunfawr on 15 September. He said: "I am happy to give the company my blessing." The reopening to Waunfawr has created 100 jobs with most of the work going to North Wales firms. It is hoped to re-open the line to Rhydd-ddu by Easter 2002. Eddie D’Silva of the Millennium Commission said: "We are proud to be associated with such a venture."
Cambrian Lines Two serious incidents took place over the summer period. Two eight-year-old girls sadly lost their lives in August playing on the track between Dovey Junction and Borth. They were on a bridge which crosses the Afon Clettwr near Tre’r-ddol when they were hit by a Sprinter train. Railtrack announced that they were taking urgent steps to fence off the railway line and remove the stile used by the public to walk towards the line. In the same month a Machynlleth to Pwllheli train hit a four-foot concrete post and a pile of stones which had been put on the line north of Tywyn. While no one was injured the train was extensively damaged and passengers had to be taken on by bus. Fortunately the Cambrian Lines do not suffer too much from vandalism of this kind but it is a disturbing warning that nowhere is safe.
Shrewsbury-Chester It is hoped an hourly service will be provided on the route from the 2001 summer timetable. Chirk station gardens have been renovated.
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