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Editorial

Journal 118 (WWW Edition)

Despite all the good signs, as reported in issue 117, pointing to an agreement with the FR becoming more likely, things seem to have stopped again. The General Manager of the FR, Gordon Rushton, with whom we had been negotiating, suddenly left their employment, and the FR Board refused to ratify the Memorandum of Understanding. This is obviously a huge setback to the rebuilding of the railway, and I personally find it hard to believe that any group committed to the rebuilding of the railway would be refusing so many offers of help.

We will continue to talk to them, to offer help, and hope that they will one day realise that the railway is going to be built, no matter how much they drag their feet. We are ready to build now, and if they were committed to rebuilding the railway at all they would allow us to start - NOW. It is time they accepted that they have to start building. We are not the only group that has had enough of their attitude, and wants to see action, not excuses.

On a brighter note, the new operating season has started very successfully. The Easter weekend was very busy, to the extent that we were close to needing to run a half hour service at one point, in order to cope with demand. The new displays outside the big shed proved to be a big attraction, as did the extended viewing area at the front of the shed, allowing our visitors to see more of the site. With the new frontage completed, and the replica station building at Pen-y-mount approaching completion it looks like being another good year.