A HERITAGE railway has ditched steam in favour of diesel due to safety concerns brought about by soaring temperatures and dry weather conditions.

The team at Blaenavon Heritage Railway, which is renowned for running services on old locomotives through the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site, made the announcement on social media this week and said they will resume all operations when it is safe to do so.

It comes as South Wales Fire and Rescue Service are still involved in fighting a wildfire near the town, which has affected 220 hectares of mixed land.

Drone footage of the damage from the wildfire near Blaenavon

“Following further assessments, we have taken the difficult decision to impose a temporary steam ban and suspend all public steam operations until further notice,” a railway spokesperson said.

“All advertised services this Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday will instead be operated by heritage diesel locomotive 37029 (D6729).

“This decision has not been taken lightly, but the safety of our passengers, volunteers, neighbouring communities and the surrounding environment must remain our highest priority.”

“We appreciate this may be disappointing for those hoping to travel behind one of our steam locomotives and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“We will continue to monitor conditions closely and will resume steam operations as soon as it is safe to do so. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

“We look forward to welcoming you, whether behind steam or diesel, and hope you’ll still enjoy a memorable day out with us.”

Costs for similar railways across the UK have also rocketed due to the rising price of coal.

Before the War in Ukraine, suitable locomotive coal could be sourced at around £100 per tonne according to BBC News.

However, some route operators have now said they are paying nearer to £400 per tonne since then, with the UK Government banning all imports of Russian coal and coal products as part of its sanctions against the country.