THE Conwy Valley railway line, which runs from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog, is planned to reopen later this month on completion of a £2.2m improvement programme.

The line has washed away because of flooding twice in the past two years, which has meant lengthy closures for passengers and local communities while the railway has been repaired.

The improvements to help protect the vital line have involved the installation of 16,000 tonnes of rock armour alongside almost two kilometres of railway between Tal-y-Cafn and Llanrwst.

This will help improve the resilience of the railway during flooding.

This new rock armour slows the water down to prevent it carrying away the railway embankment and leaving the track suspended in the air, which leads to trains being stopped for significant periods.

The newly better protected Conwy Valley line has already been tested as Storm Francis hit the area at the end of August when heavy rain meant access to the site was flooded, but the railway itself was not damaged during the extreme weather.

Now the resilience work has been completed Transport for Wales will carry out driver refresher training following the long closure of the line ahead of services restarting on Monday September 28.

The rail replacement service will continue for passengers in the meantime.