The Vale of Clwyd Railway (VoCR) was a standard-gauge line, which connected the settlements of Rhyl, St Asaph and Denbigh in North Wales.

The C&HR found itself short of funds to complete its main line, so it was left to independent promoters to put a scheme forward.

A VoCR director, Whitehall Dod, had the right to stop trains adjacent to his estate at Llannerch, a mile north of Trefnant, until December 1871 when that right expired.

The LNWR was agreeable, but demanded reciprocal running powers to Denbigh, obviously an unequal trade; as a result, the deal did not go ahead.

However, the VoCR had laid a temporary branch siding to the beach from their Foryd station, for the purpose of acquiring track ballast.

Hughes took possession of the branch siding, saying that he would use it for ordinary railway purposes and connect with the VoCR at Foryd station.

At this time, there was every likelihood of the Great Western Railway reaching Rhyl, an important regional centre, along the lines from Ruabon via Llangollen and Corwen.

[10] Today, only the northern section of the trackbed remains intact as far as the North Wales Expressway, just before St Asaph station.