The steam locomotive water supply at Llanuwchllyn - Date unknown John Bowers.
30 July 2011 Water Cut Off at Bala Lake Railway A tourist train has run out of steam after a water company decided to cut off its supply at the height of the holiday season.
Dwr Cymru's decision to cut off the water supplying Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake Railway) has angered boss Roger Hine whose steam trains attract around 200 visitors daily during the peak season.
Without any water, the steam trains will now be switched to diesel.
Dwr Cymru told Mr. Hine they wanted to carry out routine maintenance, flushing out the pipes in the village of Llanuwchllyn. Residents and businesses will also be affected by the 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. cut-off including campsites and the local pub, Gwesty'r Eryrod.
Mr. Hine said: "I didn't expect to be cut off in peak season. My next door neighbour runs a guest house and said it was typical in Wales because they are not tourism-orientated. People come here to see the steam locos not to have to ride in a diesel loco."
Four trains run from Llanuwchllyn to Bala each day, a journey of nine miles.
Mr. Hine said: "A Welsh Water man turned up and said they were going to turn the water off on 1 Aug 2011, in the peak holiday season, for "routine maintenance".
Mr. Hine said: "That's the time we are open. Water is fairly important to us for our steam trains, the cafe, and toilets."
"I just think somebody in the planning department didn't give it a thought. Our visitors will have to take buckets of water with them to the loo to flush it. We'll have to monitor it carefully. It's ridiculous."
"Routine maintenance could be done in May or June or maybe September and would have been less of an issue."
Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Elfyn Llwyd, who lives in Llanuwchllyn had tried "his best" on Mr. Hine's behalf, he said, without success.
Mr. Hine said: "They have condescended to give us bottles of water so that we can make tea and coffee. We also need stuff to clean hands. Cafe staff need to regularly wash their hands and clean surfaces. I have had a word with them and they said, we can't change it now."
"If it goes wrong, we will have to close. Time is running out. We are making every effort to keep open."
A Dwr Cymru spokeswoman said it was essential work to maintain drinking water quality.
She added: "This work has been scheduled to take place during the school summer holidays to avoid the local school, which is fed from this supply, having to close for the day."
She said everyone affected has been given a week's notice and if all goes well the water should be off for no longer than two hours.
"We have made several visits to discuss this work with Mr. Hine, the owner of the Bala Lake Railway. We are also providing Mr. Hine with details of suppliers who can provide water bowsers for hire, as our bowsers are sufficient to cover our own operations only," she said.
Hywel Trewyn.
Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Canada |