Work on the restoration of the only surviving third class Malta Railway carriage is picking up steam, but much remains to be done, as the pictures (click above and left) issued by Birkirkara Local Council show.

The council commissioned the works, assisted by funding provided by the central government.

The carriage had been shamefully allowed to deteriorate and fall victim to vandals while it was displayed for some 30 years at the former railway station in Birkirkara.

It was taken away in 2015 and restoration started in April this year.

The cost has been estimated at €55,000.

The carriage will be returned to the former station once the work is completed. There are plans for a railway museum to be set up on site. The work is being carried out in collaboration with the Malta Railway Foundation. 

Malta Railway enthusiasts Paul Galea and Ivan Bugeja had lamented for years about the sorry state of the carriage and called for urgent action to protect what remained and restore it. (See pictures of the carriage by Mr Bugeja below) 

The Malta Railway ran on a single line between Valletta and Mtarfa from 1883 to 1931, when the service was stopped because it could not compete with trams and buses.

READ: Construction and problems of the Malta railway

The carriage in Birkirkara before it was removed.

The railway leaves Valletta underground station. The site later became the Yellow Garage and is now occupied by Parliament.

The carriage being dismantled for restoration.