Dave Metcalfe puts forward his arguments for the reintroduction of this old station.
Cost-Effective
There has been renewed talk concerning the Wrexham to London Train Service recently. Furthermore, as we pointed out last year, there has also been talk of new stations on the line by those in charge of expenditure. So again, we say that reopening Rhosymedre Halt would make a lot of sense for many parties, our community, the Railway, Wrexham County, Northeast Wales and Welsh Football.
Rhosymedre Halt will be cost-effective in terms of construction and end use. We estimate that the cost of reopening Rhosymedre Halt with Step Free Access will be a third of the cost of Step Free Access at Ruabon. Simply because new lifts and a new bridge are not required. Rhosymedre Halt has ramps and bridges in place already.
Rhosymedre Bridge in the 1970s
The ramps were for running sack trucks up and down from the platforms to bring goods into our community in the days when the station was open. This is basic civil engineering. It would serve the largest community, 10,000 people within a 2-mile radius of the Halt, which is the largest community on the line between Wrexham and Shrewsbury.
Boosting The Local Economy
It would have other benefits as well.
- It is the closest station to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
- If the new medical centre at the old Kwick Save/Co-Op site ever gets the go ahead is right next door.
- It would boost the local economy in Rhosymedre and our whole area.
- Improve employment opportunities.
- Encouraging more people to use the train rather than road transport will help alleviate the congestion on the A483 between the Ruabon Roundabout and Switch Island.
- The cost of reopening Rhosymedre Halt is a fraction of what it would cost to make the same stretch of road a dual carriageway.
- Making rail transport easily accessible will encourage more people to use it.
- Reducing road transport and increasing the use of public transport helps the environment.
- It would put our community on the map.
- We could, with the correct marketing, promote the Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site to the largest tourist community in the country, i.e. London, with Direct Rail Services.
- An influx of tourism would boost our local economy.
- Help promote Welsh Football.
Rock Stadium
Rhosymedre Halt is a mere 250m from Rock Stadium, now the home of Wrexham AFC Women’s team. That’s closer for people to walk than it is from Wrexham General Station to the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. So, we are just wondering if Mr Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney would like to join us in our campaign to get Rhosymedre Halt reopened. We hear that their ladies’ team are doing very well, and there is always a good attendance for their games at the Rock Stadium in Rhosymedre.
We, in turn, are doing what we can for ladies’ football by helping Penycae FC Girls’ football team. To help raise money for this year’s kit, etc, we are running the BIG Bingo in the Ebenezer on Friday, 20th March, starting at 6pm. If anyone would like to help or donate a prize for the bingo, please see Lianne Davies or Ann Morris at the Hollybush, in Cefn Mawr or ring them on 07892 359 253 or 07944 440 577 respectively.
Penycae FC Girls
We hope to see plenty of people at the charity Bingo to support the young ladies of Penycae FC. As a bonus for the Ladies, Chris Mac will be playing in The Hollybush, Cefn Mawr, after the bingo, and we hope everyone will enjoy the evening.
Penycae
As for Rhosymedre Halt/Station, this would be extremely convenient for anyone living in Penycae. This would add another 3,000 people to the demography in support of reopening the Halt, bringing the total to 13,000 within a short travelling distance. Therefore, we openly invite all local community councils, Cefn, Llangollen Rural and Penycae to get in touch with us and write letters of support.
Furthermore, we openly invite the transport department of WCBC and the Mayor (Tina) to get in touch with us and look at how we can do this. We assure everyone that all councils will be reading this. So have faith, together we can make a very strong team. And if Ryan & Rob want to get in touch too, you are most welcome.
Regards, Dave Metcalfe, pkcgroup.wales.
Feature image: recreation of Rhosymedre Halt.
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