THERE may still be light at the end of the tunnel for a railway venture in Meirionnydd.

Plans to reopen the keenly awaited Blaenau Ffestiniog to Trawsfynydd railway hit a stumbling block in recent months after Network Rail pulled the licence to operate on the disused railway track, last used over 20 years ago.

The Trawsfynydd Railway Company lost their licence to clear the seven-mile track after damage was caused to a bridge last August.

An investigation by Network Rail found serious breaches to health, safety and environmental legislation, revoked the licence, and ordered the company to remove their equipment from the line.

Now the Blaenau Ffestiniog and Trawsfynydd Railway Society, which was originally formed to promote the project, has been revitalised and hopes to begin the long task to restoring this link.

Society secretary Rob Bradley said: “With a new steering committee established, the society expects soon to be able to ask its members to approve a new management committee.

“Then we can start the huge task of getting all the legal agreements and safety and environmental systems in place to start again on the task of refurbishing the line, eventually to offer local residents and visitors a heritage visitor centre and train services on the line.

“We plan to ask residents and councils for their input at every stage. Things will be quiet while this consultation and the setting up of systems and agreements takes place.

“Once work can begin, activity and visiting volunteers should start to bring money into the local economy.

“Train services will be carefully planned to serve residents and to feed additional visitors to the existing major tourist offerings at Llechwedd and the Ffestiniog Railway’s Blaenau terminus and also to create new destinations towards the southern end of the line.

“Once we have firm news to offer, we’ll be in touch with all the local stakeholders.”