THOUSANDS of tonnes of rock and ballast have been relocated in the battle to reopen the Conwy Valley train line.

Residents of Blaenau Ffestiniog have been without their rail link since 27 December, after horrendous weather hit north Wales causing floods and destroying significant portions of track.

Graeme Bickerdike from Network Rail said: “More than 1,000 tonnes of replacement ballast has been placed along 1.5 miles of railway track.

“We are hoping train services will be reinstated by the end of the month.”