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The Future |
Though now firmly established as a tourist attraction in the Dulas Valley running between Corris village and Maespoeth, the Corris Railway is far from complete and several exciting new projects are currently being pursued.
Second Steam Locomotive (No 10)
One of the difficulties which the current Corris Railway has faced since it began to bring the line back to life is its track gauge. 2 feet and 3 inches is unusual and now only shared with our Talyllyn neighbours. So when it comes to locomotives and rolling stock we are limited in what we can use or hire in. We have important historical vehicles and have built a new carriage shed at a cost of over £150,000 to keep them under cover. We have also spent £100,000 on steam locomotive number 7 which joined the ongoing story of the Corris in 2005.
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Number 7 is an updated replica of the original number 4 and has proved an excellent machine. However as the line expands in length and number of visitors more steam power will be needed, especially as number 7 will fall due for the statutory “ten year” overhaul in 2014/15. And so the Corris Railway is going to build another “Falcon” after a modest gap of a century and a quarter. The engine will carry the number 10, simply because it will be the tenth locomotive to work on the Corris since 1878. The timescale for construction will depend very much on funding and for a small Society such as ourselves this will be another major effort and all help will be much appreciated. |
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For more up to date information on the progress of the Falcon Locomotive and an opportunity to make a donation towards the costs, or even sponsor an individual part, please click here to view "the Falcon Locomotive page". |
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Extension to Tan-y-Coed
Beyond the current southern terminus at Maespoeth the Railway is actively seeking to reinstate a further one and a half miles of the old line to Tan-y-Coed. Tan-y-Coed, about midway between the original stations at Esgairgeiliog and Llwyngwern, is the site of the Forestry Commission's picnic site and Forest Trails, and is within walking distance of the Centre for Alternative Technology in Llwyngwern Quarry.
The only serious physical obstruction on this section of line has been caused by road improvements at Pont-y-Goedwig, approximately a quarter of a mile south of Maespoeth, where the trackbed formation has been breached. The Corris Railway Company has acquired the land necessary to construct a deviation around this obstacle, and work is currently focussed on meeting planning and environmental requirements before construction work commences in earnest. In the meantime, the Society has been involved in the restoration of Esgairgeiliog Station. It awaits the day when it will once again be used to sell tickets for trains to Corris !
Once the line is complete from Corris to Tan-y-Coed, the Society hopes to be able to arrange joint ticketing with the Centre for Alternative Technology and King Arthur's Labyrinth (close to Corris Station in the former Braichgoch Quarry) and encourage visitors to leave their cars at one end or other and use the railway as a means of enjoying the "Dulas Valley Experience".
Whilst some preparatory work "on the ground" will commence to some extent now that our main running season has come to an end, we need approx. £25,000 ideally this winter, in order to complete the basics so that we can have all the permissions in place and be free to really commence works next year to extend Southwards. CAN YOU HELP??
New terminus at Corris
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Sat 6th Nov 11.00 - 15.00 Sun 7th Nov 11.00 - 15.00 Mon 8th Nov 9.00 - 13.00 |
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Full details of the proposal with Q & A, plans and pictures are provided below.
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Datblygiad Arfaethedig Ardal Gorsaf Corris Pam ydym yn ceisio datblygiad newydd? Ers i ni agor i’r cyhoedd yn 2002, mae Rheilffordd Corris wedi gweld cynnydd yn y nifer o ymwelwyr, ar gyfartaledd o 5% pob blwyddyn. Mae’r cynnydd hyn wedi rhoi pwysedd mawr ar ein cyfleusterau prin yng Nghorris ac mae’r rheilffordd angen cymeryd camau i ddelio â hyn os yw i barhau yn yr hir dymor. Yn benodol:
• Mae’r platfform presennol
yn fyr iawn ac ond yn gallu cymeryd 1½ cerbyd, sydd yn annigonol i ddelio
gyda’r cynnydd yn yr ymwelwyr. Mae sawl achlysur eleni pan fo’r rheilffordd
wedi troi cwsmeriaid oddi yno gan fod y trennau yn llawn. Er ein bod yn chwilio am le i ymgymeryd â’r gwaith hwn, mae’r rheilffordd yn ymwybodol o’r angen i warchod mannau sydd yn bwysig i’r gymuned e.e. maes parcio a’r feddygfa. Y cynnig Bydd y cynnig arfaethedig yn darparu:
• Terfynfa rheilffordd mwy a
gwell gyda tho fydd yn debyg iawn i adeilad gwreiddiol Rheilffordd Corris (ond
yn llai). Rhai cwestiynau ac atebion Oes cais cynllunio wedi cael ei gyflwyno i’r cynigion hyn? Na, ymgynghoriad anffurfiol yn unig yw hwn. Mae angen i Reilffordd Corris wrando ar farn y trigolion ac eraill sy’n cael eu effeithio gan y cynigion cyn cysidro cais cynllunio. Efallai byddwn angen newid y cynllun yn dilyn yr adborth a dderbynnir yn ystod y cyfnod ymgynghori. A fyddwch yn lleihau'r maes parcio i wneud lle i’r Derfynfa Rheilffordd? Na. Bydd yr estyniad i’r derfynfa rheilffordd ar y tir o fewn y ffiniau portakabin y feddygfa. A fydd y feddygfa doctor yn cau tra bydd y newidiadau yn cymeryd lle? Na. Y cynllun yw adeiladu ac agor y feddygfa newydd yn gyntaf. Ar ôl hyn bydd y portakabin yn cael ei symud. Byddwn yn osgoi unrhyw aflonyddwch i’r feddygfa. A yw hyn yn golygu na fydd toiledau ar gael tra bydd y feddygfa yn cael ei hadeiladu? Na. Rydym yn gobeithio darparu toiledau dros dro yn gyfagos i ben deheuol adeilad yr amgueddfa tra bydd y feddygfa yn cael ei hadeiladu. Oni fydd Terfynfa Rheilffordd fwy yn golygu mwy o geir yn achosi tagfeydd yn y maes parcio a’r pentref? Fel rhan o’r estyniad deheuol, mae’r Rheilffordd yn bwriadu darparu cyfleusterau parcio cynhwysfawr ochr Tan y Coed, cyfagos i’r A487. Bydd arwyddion yn cael ei addasu er mwyn cyfeirio ceir i barcio ar y pen hwnnw o’r rheilffordd, a chan fod hyn yn lawer iawn hwylusach i ymwelwyr na gyrru trwy bentref Corris, rydym yn rhagweld y bydd llawer iawn llai o alwad am barcio yng Nghorris. Nid ydym yn rhagweld y bydd nifer yr ymwelwyr yn cynyddu hyd nes bydd yr estyniad wedi agor, gan nad oes diddordeb mawr yn y rheilffordd tra ei bod mor fyr. Beth yw eich amserlen i wneud y gwaith? Rydym yn bwriadu cynnal ymgynghoriad anffurfiol am fis. Yn dilyn hyn, rydym angen gwerthuso ac ymateb i’r adborth a dderbyniwn. Efallai byddwn angen gwneud newidiadau i’r cynigion er mwyn delio â phryderon arbennig. Yn dilyn hyn, byddwn yn gwneud cais am ganiatâd cynllunio i’r datblygiad arfaethedig, gobeithio erbyn gwanwyn 2011. Gan fod meddygfa newydd yn cael darparu, a fydd y gwasanaeth yn gwella ? Na, ni fydd lefel y gwasanaeth yn cael ei effeithio gan yr adeilad sy’n cynnig y gwasanaeth. Mae gennyf gwestiwn sydd heb gael ei ateb yma. Ble gai godi fy mhryderon? Bydd arddangosfa o’r cynigion yn cael ei gynnal yn Amgueddfa Rheilffordd Corris a/neu’r Institiwt Corris ar y dyddiadau canlynol :
Sad 30 Hydref 11.00 - 15.00
Sad 6ed Tachwedd 11.00 - 15.00 a bydd staff ar gael i ateb unrhyw gwestiwn sydd gennych. Gallwch hefyd ysgrifennu i Corris Railway, Station Yard, Corris Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9SH neu anfon e-bost i enquiries@corris.co.uk |
Corris Station Area Development Proposals Why are we seeking a new development? Since opening to passengers in 2002, the Corris Railway has seen a steady increase in visitor numbers, averaging around 5% each year. This increase has put great pressure on our very limited facilities in Corris and the railway needs to take steps to address this if it is to survive for the longer term. Specifically:
• The current station platform is very
short and can only accommodate 1½ carriages, which is insufficient to cope
with increasing passenger numbers. Several times this year the railway has
had to turn customers away as trains were full. In seeking to provide space to accommodate these works, the railway has been keenly aware of the need to protect community interests like the car park and the surgery. The Proposal The proposed development will provide:
• An enlarged and improved railway
terminus with an overall roof resembling the original Corris Station
building (albeit much smaller). Some questions and answers: Q. Has a planning application been submitted for these proposals? A. No, this is an informal consultation only. The Corris Railway needs to listen to the views of residents and others affected by the proposals before considering a planning application. It may well be that the plans will need to be altered in response to feedback received during this consultation period. Q. Will you be reducing the car parking to make room for the railway terminus? A. No. The extension to the railway terminus will occupy only the land within the footprint of the current surgery portakabin. Q. Will the doctor’s surgery be closed while the changes take place? A. No. The plan is that the new surgery will be built and commissioned first. Only then will the portakabin be removed. We would avoid any disruption to the surgery. Q. Does that mean the site will be without toilets while the surgery is being constructed? A. No. We hope to provide temporary toilet facilities adjacent to the south end of the Museum building while the surgery building is being constructed. Q. Won’t your larger railway terminus result in more cars causing congestion in the car park and in the village? A. As part of its southern extension the Railway intends to provide comprehensive parking facilities at the Tan Y Coed end, adjacent to the A487. Signposting will be amended to direct cars to park at that end for the railway, and given that this will be much simpler for tourists than navigating through Corris village we are anticipating a reduction in parking demand at Corris. We don’t anticipate visitor numbers growing substantially until the extension is open, as the railway has limited tourist appeal while it is so short. Q. What are your planned timescales for doing all this? A. We plan to run informal consultation for one month. Following this, we need to evaluate and respond to the feedback received. We may then need to amend our proposals to address particular concerns. Following that we will apply for planning permission for the proposed development, hopefully by the spring of 2011. Q. Given that a new surgery is being provided, will the service be improved ? A. No, the level of service will be unaffected by the premises from which it is offered. Q. I have a question that is not answered here. Where can I raise my concerns? A. An exhibition of the proposals will be held in the Corris Railway Museum and/or the Corris Institute on the following dates:
Sat 30th Oct 11.00 - 15.00
Sat 6th Nov 11.00 - 15.00 and staff will be available to answer any questions you raise. Alternatively you can write to Corris Railway, Station Yard, Corris Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9SH or email enquiries@corris.co.uk
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