THE general manager of the Talyllyn Railway in Tywyn has said he is disappointed but not surprised by the Welsh Government’s new coal policy.

The policy lays out plans to stop the extraction of coal in Wales, a move which he said could have a significant impact on the heritage railway industry.

Stuart Williams told the Cambrian News of his disappointment.

He said: “The content of the new Welsh Government coal policy came as no surprise, but it’s very disappointing.

“We have now begun sourcing Russian coal, with our first two tonnes for a trial sitting here at Wharf Station.

“Our Victorian locomotives were built to run on Welsh steam coal, and when we’ve previously tried coal from abroad before it’s just not burned as well.

“The risk with relying on imports is that the costs will inevitably rise and the continuity of supply is fraught with a complex number of factors involved with importing thousands of miles.”

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP, and chair of the APPG on Heritage Rail, Liz Saville Roberts has urged the Welsh Government to look again with urgency at its newly published coal policy.

She said: “After coronavirus, this is the second body-blow to hit heritage railways in Wales this year.

“This policy ignores the effect of banning coal use on tourism, local employment and skills training and disproportionally affects north Wales and particularly Dwyfor Meirionnydd, with its world-class collection of historic narrow-gauge railways.”

She added: “The policy as it is makes no mention of heritage railways, or indeed other heritage transport such as traction engines, steam lorries or steamboats.

“However, it does acknowledge that, in exceptional circumstances further extraction could be permitted on a case-by-case basis.

“The crisis for heritage railways and tourism can only be averted if Welsh heritage railways are treated as exceptional, both for coal extraction and burning.”

Lesley Griffiths MS, minister for environment, energy and rural affairs said: “Whilst coal will continue to be used in some industrial processes and non-energy uses in the short to medium term, adding to the global supply of coal will prolong our dependency on coal and make achieving our decarbonisation targets increasingly difficult.

“It is clear the move towards a managed end of the extraction and use of coal must be decisive and delivered as soon as is feasibly possible.”