Vale of Glamorgan Railway

The Vale of Glamorgan Railway Company was a Welsh railway preservation society, previously based on the private line that runs alongside the main line linking Barry Town and Barry Island stations, and which officiallly ceased to exist in early 2011.

In 1979, the Butetown Historic Railway Society was formed at Bute Road station in the docklands area of Cardiff. The aim was to restore the then derelict Taff Vale Railway station, and establish a steam hauled passenger service to Cardiff Queen Street station. By 1994, a short section of track existed, and the steam locomotive Sir Gomer hauled short passenger trains.

By 1997, the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation was in charge of the redevelopment of Butetown, and dismissed the idea of a rejuvenated steam railway as part of their plans.

Having moved to Barry Island with a supporting grant from the Vale of Glamorgan Council, the society began to renew the site and the infrastructure.

But VoGC began to develop new needs for tourism under a new generic plan, with a stated aim to create a centre of transport preservation excellence. While the society had been informed by the Council that this plan included them, VoGC had been working with consultants on a far wider review of potential uses and development of the Barry Island Railway.

In December 2007, VoGC under financial pressure of the developing Global Credit Crunch terminated the £65,000 of annual funding of the Barry Island Railway. In June 2008, VoGC put the railway site out to tender under a long term lease. There were three bids submitted:

The winning bid was from Cambrian Transport, who offered a package of proven commercial railway expertise and a knowledge of the site and the council's requirements. Further, they included an educational development package, using the site and the project to train local young people into formal railway professionals, and offered the lowest cost to VoGC priced bid.

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