Green Signals

The new £5M railway being built in Wales – Bala Lake Railway extension (Snowdonia)

Jan 21, 2025

39:23

A brand new railway is being built in Wales. They have the land. They have the planning permission. Some of the ballast is even laid. All they need is the rest of the money to finish it and they can reconnect a railway with its town.

The Bala Lake Railway (home of the beautiful Quarry Hunslets) on the banks of the glorious Bala Lake in Snowdonia is raising the money to take the railway from its current terminus on the outskirts of Bala, where there are no facilities to a brand new station in the heart of town.

This is the story of the railway and the transformational Red Dragon Project.

In this episode:

(00:00) Intro to the railway

(04:25) Quarry Hunslets and into the workshop

(10:36) History of the line

(12:23) General Manager David Jones on the railway's prospects

(15:23) Julian Birley and the Red Dragon Project

(19:34) Walking the route of the new railway

(26:43) The local community

(31:37) What next for the project?

(32:58) Footplate ride on Alice back to Llanuwchllyn

(36:43) Wrapping up an amazing visit

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Credits: Photos & video - Shutterstock, Transport for London, Network Rail, HS2 Ltd, Southeastern, Telerail Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)