AFTER a gap of almost 40 years Lydney's town station has been officially reopened.
A key project in the Dean Forest Railway's Severnside heritage branchline plans, the platform was crowded with guests for Sunday's ceremony, conducted by town mayor David Clarke.
The station closed when the line fell under the Beeching axe. All of the facilities were demolished.
A Dean Forest Railway spokesman told the Review: "The station bears no resemblance to the former station due to encroaching building development. However, the station building and platform atmosphere recall the days of the old Severn and Wye Railway which was jointly owned by Great Western and London Midland Railways."
Lydney station now falls between the Dean Forest Railway's northern terminus at the Norchard Railway Centre and Lydney Junction which links to the Gloucester-Cardiff main line. Visitors can now break their journey in Lydney town centre.
After Sunday's opening ceremony guests were entertained aboard the DFR's Royal Forester dining car – a new venture being offered to rail travellers on Sundays throughout the season.