A CELEBRATION event and plaque unveiling were held on December 8 to mark the completion of the four-year restoration project on the iconic 770-metre Grade-II listed Barmouth Viaduct on the Cambrian Coast line.
UK Government Wales Office minister Fay Jones unveiled a plaque in front of Network Rail representatives and rail industry partners, along with members of the local council and community.
The line was fully reopened to train services on December 2 following completion of a 13-week closure to allow teams from Network Rail and contractor Griffiths to complete the final stages of the restoration of the viaduct, which began in 2020.
Barmouth Viaduct was built in 1867 by the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway and is the longest in Wales and the longest wooden railway bridge in Britain. When restoration work on the structure began, the 156-year-old bridge was found to be in much worse condition than originally anticipated, with significant decay to the timber elements and corrosion to a large portion of the metal section.
Due to the structure’s industrial heritage, components were replaced on a like-for-like basis to retain its appearance and respect its listing. Rather than implementing a lengthy closure of the route over the viaduct, the work was purposely spread over several years, with four shorter closures put in place during the project to minimise the impact of closing the line on the community and rail passengers.
The final part of the project saw the northern abutments strengthened and additional timber elements upgraded. Two replacement 160-tonne metal bridge spans were then installed, with engineers using a total of 44 jacks ranging from 20 to 100-tonne capacity, as well as six rail trailers, to achieve this.
Network Rail’s route director for Wales and Borders, Nick Millington, said: “I am delighted that we could be joined by the Wales Office minister to celebrate the restoration of this iconic piece of Welsh railway heritage.
“It’s a fantastic achievement for the teams who have worked tireles
