Enlightened were privileged to facilitate the team from Network Rail Wales & Borders to light the Ffestiniog Tunnels Entrance and interior to show its support and pay tribute to the NHS, UK key workers and transport colleagues working tirelessly on our behalf. Sited at the southern end of the glorious Conwyn Valley Railway line, the four kilometre long Ffestiniog Tunnel is part of Network Rail Wales and Borders.
The team were also pleased to have been asked to facilitate the team from Network Rail to light the iconic Britannia Bridge and turn it blue on 23 April to show their support and solidarity for the NHS and other key workers – including frontline railway colleagues who are keeping essential passenger journeys and freight moving across the network. Enlightened were commissioned by Network Rail to deliver the illumination.
Following the example set at Glasgow Central Station, the Royal Albert Bridge in Plymouth and Bristol Temple Meads station, this is the first-time rail infrastructure in Wales has been lit to mark Clap for Carers.
The Network Rail owned bridge which spans the Menai Strait between Anglesey and the mainland carrying the railway line from Chester to Holyhead, was illuminated at 8pm (GMT) on 23 April to coincide with the nation’s weekly Clap for Carers.
The lighting of the Grade II listed structure was supported by the Welsh Government – responsible for the A55 road also carried by the bridge – and rail industry partners from Transport for Wales and British Transport Police.
Originally designed by railway pioneer Robert Stephenson, Britannia Bridge recently celebrated its 170th anniversary. Completed in 1850, it was devastated by fire in 1970 and subsequently rebuilt as a combined road and rail bridge, using the masonry supports and iconic stone lions from Stephenson’s original structure.
Bill Kelly, Network Rail’s Route Director for Wales and Borders, said: “We are really proud of NHS staff and all key workers on the frontline against Coronavirus. We wanted to do something special to show our solidarity with them, as well as paying tribute to rail workers across Wales and Borders who have responded to this national emergency so magnificently.
He noted: “Passenger numbers are very low – which is fantastic as it means people are staying home to help save lives – but we continue to have a vital role: supporting essential journeys and moving freight across the network that is helping keep our supermarkets and pharmacies stocked with food and medicines.”
Ken Skates, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales said: “The hard work, dedication and skill of individuals working to do all they can to provide crucial services and keep us safe and well through the Coronavirus crisis is an inspiration to us all. These people are helping keep critical services up and down the country in operation through enormous challenges and it’s important that we take time out to say a public ‘thank you’ to each and every one.”
James Price, CEO of Transport for Wales said: “I’d like to thank all our NHS staff and key workers who are truly dedicated and supporting the country in the fight against Covid19. Across the whole of our network we’ve seen a collaborative team approach and it’s great to pay tribute to all those involved.”
Price added: “We continue to urge all our customers to please stay at home and our recent figures reveal a 95% passenger number drop, which indicates that people are listening. We are currently running a reduced timetable to provide essential travel links for all our key workers and we’ve expanded our cleaning capabilities to ensure the safety of our customers and staff.”
Andy Morgan, Superintendent for British Transport Police in Wales added: “We’re proud to support our partners in this well-deserved display of appreciation to those on the frontline of the fight against Coronavirus – from healthcare and retail workers to our officers and railway industry colleagues. I have always felt that they all do an amazing job, and perhaps something we as a society take for granted, but this situation has reminded everyone just how important they are to us.
Morgan continued: “We’re pleased to see the majority of people sticking to the Government guidelines – helping us to focus on getting key workers to where they need to be. We’d like to say a big thank you to those continuing to stay at home – we hope everyone enjoyed this colourful thank you.”
Enlightened were also privileged to facilitate Traffic Wales and the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency (NMWTRA) in lighting the aptly nicknamed Rainbow Bridge over the A55 to show support and gratitude for the tireless work of our NHS, social care staff and other key workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This well-known landmark, between Llanddulas and Colwyn Bay, looked spectacular on the evening of May the 5th vividly lit in rainbow colours with a Welsh flag and thank you message projected onto the facing cliffside.
Ben Dodds, our Crew Chief, and LD, highlighted how he and his colleagues Shaun Zedlewski and John Young tackled the particular challenges the project required. He commented: “Due to safety restrictions around dazzling traffic and only being able to close the carriageways for short durations, we were very restricted with where we could light the bridge from. This is where the Elation Fuze Profiles came into their own. Having a low power LED fixture that is punchy enough, has great colour mixing, and crucially has framing shutters was what made this possible.
Dodds furthered: “All of the cable and equipment had to be carried up and over the bridge and some steep embankments and had to be set up, programmed, and derigged within a five-hour window. The team worked closely with the highways agency who put in rolling roadblocks to allow the installation to be photographed safely without distracting drivers”.
The rider included eight Elation Fuze Profiles, an ETC ION Xe + iPad, and 6kVA Generator. “Our thanks to Octagon Engineering Services & SPIE for their participation,” Dodds concluded.
