Editing Cambrian Line (section)

==Coast Line infrastructure problems==
[[File:Llanaber rail storm damage 2014.jpg|right|thumb|Wave damage caused at Llanaber, 3 January 2014]]

Major structural problems with Barmouth Bridge resulted in the withdrawal of services between 1980 and 1986<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1340 |title=Engineering Timelines - Barmouth Viaduct |website=www.engineering-timelines.com}}</ref> and the line was threatened with closure before ultimately being repaired and reopened.

Work began in March 2013 to replace the wooden [[Pont Briwet]] viaduct over the [[River Dwyryd|Afon Dwyryd]] near {{rws|Llandecwyn}}. The new bridge now carries two lanes of road traffic and the single track railway, and opened in 2015.<ref name="replacement">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-21803348|title=Penrhyndeudraeth-Harlech bridge replacement under way|date=15 March 2013|access-date=20 January 2014|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> It was hoped that, apart from a four-week period where power cables had to be moved, the old viaduct could remain open throughout the works.<ref name="cables">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-22155645|title=Penrhyndeudraeth-Harlech bridge closes for cable work|date=15 April 2013|access-date=20 January 2014|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> However, the bridge was found to have been affected by the [[piling]] work for the new bridge, and was declared structurally unsafe and closed in December 2013. This necessitated a diversion via [[Maentwrog]] for road users and caused rail services to terminate at {{rws|Harlech}}. A new temporary bridge was due to open in Spring 2014, but this plan had been scrapped in favour of running a convoy system on the A496 road that served as the diversionary route.<ref name="closed">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-25715824|title=Pont Briwet bridge closed over safety as £20m crossing built|date=13 January 2014|access-date=20 January 2014|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref><ref name="fiasco">{{cite news|url=http://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/news/bridge-fiasco-could-close-porthmadog-line-until-2015|title=Bridge fiasco could close Porthmadog line until 2015|author=Milner, Chris|date=1 January 2014|access-date=20 January 2014|work=[[The Railway Magazine]]|publisher=[[Mortons of Horncastle|Mortons Media Group]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118075916/http://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/news/bridge-fiasco-could-close-porthmadog-line-until-2015|archive-date=18 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-26637955 |title=Pont Briwet temporary bridge plan scrapped |work=BBC News North West Wales |date=19 March 2014 |access-date=24 March 2014 }}</ref> Work then focused on completing the main railway and road bridge by the end of the year.

In January 2014, the Coast line from Dovey Junction was closed to all trains after two sections of track between {{rws|Tywyn}} and {{rws|Barmouth}} were severely damaged by [[Cyclone Anne (2014)|storm-force winds and tidal surges]] at the beginning of the month. Part of the sea wall protecting the trackbed at Llanaber near Barmouth was washed away, resulting in some 300 tons of ballast being lost and the formation covered in debris, whilst further south a section of embankment at Tonfanau was washed out.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/repairs-start-cambrian-coast-railway-6490832|title=Repairs start on Cambrian Coast railway line after storm damage|date=10 January 2014|access-date=20 January 2014|work=[[North Wales Daily Post|Daily Post]]}}</ref> Two of [[Arriva Trains Wales]]'s {{brc|158}} trains were trapped at Barmouth, and were removed by road.<ref name="roadtrip">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-25743400|title=Road trip for storm-hit Barmouth marooned trains|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=15 January 2014|access-date=20 January 2014}}</ref> Network Rail described the damage suffered by the line as "devastating", but stated the line to Barmouth could be reopened {{as of|2014|01|alt=by 10 February 2014}}, which it was. Repairs north of Barmouth were completed, and the line reopened to Harlech on 1 May 2014, two weeks ahead of schedule.<ref name="months">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-25794295 |title=Cambrian Coast rail flood repairs at Barmouth and Pwllheli to take months |date=20 January 2014 |access-date=20 January 2014 |work=BBC News |publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> The full line reopened on 1 September 2014.<ref>[[RAIL (magazine)|''RAIL'']] 757, p. 13.</ref>