The only surviving carriage from the Maltese railway has been denied government restoration funds, but Birkirkara local council will be appealing the decision.

Meanwhile, Attard council will also appeal the refusal of a separate project that would restore the highest embankment of the former railway.

The Malta railway ran between 1883 and 1931 but the service was halted because it could not compete with trams and buses.

It is estimated that the restoration of the third-class carriage, which has been exposed for a long time to the natural elements and vandalism, will cost about €42,000 while the embankment will cost €200,000.

Birkirkara and the Attard councils applied for funding under a €1 million scheme launched by the government this year, however the projects were not chosen.

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