They also have announced a couple of drop in sessions where there will be an update questions can be asked.
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/...ongoing-work-to-repair-the-conwy-valley-line/
I was in the Llanrwst area this afternoon, and dropped in for a look. Here are some highlights and a few pictures:
Network Rail are funded to maintain the current railway, so the current works are just repairing what's been washed out. (Any pre-emptive strengthening or replacement would need dedicated funding to be allocated.) A representative estimated that perhaps 40% of the alignment around Llanrwst has been rebuild over the past decades.
One exhibit showed a rebuilt embankment with large rocks along either side (like a coastal breakwater) and a waterproof layer along the formation itself to stop the ballast and subgrade being destabilised and washed away.
Another exhibit showed one of roughly half a dozen culverts that are being fitted in other rebuilt areas. Much of the damage to the alignment was caused by flood water that was stuck the wrong side of the railway line. The river overflows its banks south of Llanrwst due to the water slowing down as it navigates the two tight bends south of the town. On this occasion, this water overcame a (non-railway) embankment of 10m, and flowed north into the town. The railway embankment (11m high) was then caught between this flood water and the river itself. As the river level dropped, the water trapped on the other side washed out the embankment.
To deal with this, the number of culverts in the area is being doubled, so that flood water can get back to the river without damaging the railway. As mentioned, NR are only funded to repair what breaks, so they're not able to put culverts in any other (un-breached) areas as a preventative measure. The engineer I spoke to did note that they intend to keep their current designs on file, so that if another portion of the line is breached in the future, they'll have a ready-to go solution so they can spend less time at the design board, and get the shovels in quicker.
There was also a TfW representative there. He confirmed that the first 230s would be sent to the Borderlands (around the autumn) but wasnt' sure if later units would be used on the Conwy Valley. He was able to tell me that they're aiming to reopen the line as far as Llanrwst in mid-July (14th, iirc) and throughout a week later.
For the National Eisteddfod in August, there are discussions taking place (today, as it happens) about strengthening services, and possibly operating a shuttle service to Llanrwst to supplement the normal three-hourly service. I hope to hear more details by email about this in the coming days.
