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The re-opening of a disused railway line could bring huge benefits to Gwynedd, a supporter says.

The branch line from Bangor to Caernarfon, part of a wider network that extended south to Penygroes and Pwllheli, closed in 1972.

But the seven mile line is part of the Campaign for Better Transport's plan to reopen dozens of tracks across Britain to revitalise the network and improve public transport links.

Re-opening the line was one of the key proposals in Arriva Trains Wales bid for the Wales ad Borders rail franchise in 2002 but was not acted upon.

Bob Saxby, a retired chartered civil engineer , worked for Gwynedd County Council when its reopening was considered a decade earlier in the mid-1990s.

He believes a line from Bangor to Caernarfon should follow the new by-pass rather than the old trackbed along part of the route.

He says: "At that time it met opposition from residents in Y Felinheli and councillors decided not to proceed with it.

"I did at the time ask for the Felinheli Bypass, then being designed, to allow for a railway line alongside it but was ignored," he said.

Attracting visitors

But Mr Saxby is convinced of the benefits the re-opening would have on the area and has carried out his own study.

He has identified an alternative route alongside Y Felinheli by-pass road and a study of the gradients required has established the journey times makes this is a viable option for a railway, he says.

(Image: Bob Saxby)

"Four miles of the route is on the existing trackbed with three miles via the by-pass needing new earthworks and a section of tunnel to cross the road. The potential for attracting more visitors is great with Caernarfon Castle, a World Heritage Site, and the Welsh Highland Railway as attractions while the journey times offered by rail can improve access to jobs along the coast for residents," he added.

The track to Caernarfon from Bangor leaves the existing main line near the south side of the Menai Suspension Bridge then uses the old trackbed via a new bridge over the A55 and two new bridges in Parc Menai to Treborth Tunnels.

The line needs only one of these existing twin tunnels then needs a bridge over the A487 by Vaynol roundabout onto the old embankment on the south side of the by-pass.

After climbing at 1 in 50 and bridging the Nant y Garth Road the line needs to enter a new tunnel under the top part of the by-pass then come out on the north side onto a new embankment leading to bridges over the Plas Menai roundabout.

The downward gradient then continues onto the old trackbed with new bridges giving road access to Griffiths Crossing and Waterloo Port before arriving at a new Caernarfon station between Morrisons and the lower car park.

He said: "Being on the British Rail network can bring significant benefits by making access by public transport easier and quicker for residents and visitors.

"In Scotland the Borders Line between Edinbrgh and Tweedbank reopened in 2015 and by 2017 visitor numbers in the area had increased by 8% while 40,000 car trips had been avoided.

"The Borders Line cost £9.5m per mile to construct including nine stations, 42 bridges and over nine miles of double track. Re-opening to Caernarfon via the by-pass would involve seven miles of single track with one station plus a run round loop for excursions."

Mr Saxby added the new TfW granchise introduced in October 2018 includes a proposal for an hourly service between Manchester Airport and Bangor.

(Image: Robert Parry Jones)

Overseas visitors

"This could be extended to Caernarfon giving a very attractive link to attract overseas visitors. Also there is scope for some of the Holyhead-Cardiff trains to serve Caernarfon to cater for business traffic and some trains from London Euston could potentially serve Caernarfon by either diving at Bangor when two units are used or, as is the case with the existing 16.10 service, extending to Caernarfon rather than terminating at Bangor.

"Such services would be a major boost to the economy of Caernarfon thus creating jobs as well as improving access along the coast. The line could be built and owned by TfW as is proposed for infrastructure in the Cardiff area with suitable revisions to the proposed Network Rail resignalling for the main line to facilitate trains joining at Bangor," he said.

Work is currently underway on the new Caernarfon by-pass and this involves work at the western end of the Felinheli by-pass.

But the proposals by Mr Saxby have been given a cautious welcome by local community leaders.

Arfon AM Siân Gwenllian, who lives in Y Felinheli, said: "I fully support efforts to create a new railway link between Caernarfon and Bangor. It is only an idea at the moment, but it certainly needs exploring in full.

"Developing the economy of our area needs infrastructure investment and any plans to lessen the number of cars on our local roads are to be welcomed – for the benefit of the environment and to lessen pollution and congestion.

"There will be physical constraints and practical issues that will need to be resolved but I am in favour of exploring all options in full, including the proposition to utilise the Felinheli by-pass as part of the new route."

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