THE BALA Lake Railway project has received a major boost after the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £38,500 to improve the infrastructure at Llanuwchllyn station.

The news follows an announcement in February that the purchase of the first plot of land for the Bala Town station has been secured.

Staff and volunteers at Bala Lake Railway are celebrating the funding, which will “significantly extend and improve their existing rolling stock accommodation”.

The scheme will accompany their ongoing extension plans for a new station at Bala Town.

Project leader and BLR director Julian Birley BEM, said: “This is superb news for the BLR and for the local area.

“In recent years the team has been reaping the rewards of their hard work to provide more events and a better visitor experience, and the year-on-year growth in passenger numbers reflects that.

“However, the existing facilities have become increasingly overcrowded and do not allow us to expand.”

Aside from larger and more secure accommodation for BLR rolling stock, the extended building will provide an improved visitor experience through disabled access and better interpretation of the heritage exhibits.”

Read the full story in today’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News