Aberystwyth to Carmarthen line reopening proposed by Traws Link Cymru

[editor]

It's certainly a bold proposal but one that would make a huge difference to the area: http://www.trawslinkcymru.org.uk/?page_id=48

What are the advantages of reinstating this rail link?
- To connect busy towns in Wales with a reliable rail link.
- To complete the rail network in Wales.
- To reduce the strain on the roads of west Wales, resulting in reduced
maintenance costs for councils.
- To link north and south Wales.
- To attract tourists to the area.
- To boost the rural economy, and helping to attract businesses to invest
in the area.
- To allow for the youth of rural Wales to live in their rural towns and
commute to work, creating a ‘commuter corridor’.
- It is a much more sustainable form of transport. The carbon footprint
is far less for rail users than car or even bus users.
- It would link the university towns of Wales by rail.
- It would ease journeys for people to reach cultural events such as the
National Eisteddfod, sports games and Royal Welsh Show.
- The present bus system stands to gain, as buses will become a part of
the transport network. By connecting Aberystwyth and Carmarthen by
train, bus operators can concentrate on operating local services.
- Railways are a more socially inclusive means of transport, helping
young people, the elderly, and the increasing numbers of people who
can’t afford a car.

Over 100 people attended a meeting amid hopes a rail link between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen can be reopened.

The meeting in Aberystwyth was organised by campaign group Traws Link Cymru which revealed its hopes for a 90 minute service between the two towns.

The line closed in 1965 and at that time the journey took almost three hours, stopping at over 20 stations.

But reinstating the 56-mile line could cost around £650m. The group is trying to get funding for a feasibility study.

The meeting heard that around 3% of the track bed has been built on but Traws Link Cymru said that was no obstacle to reopening the line.

Ceredigion AM Elin Jones was at the meeting and said she would arrange for members of the group to meet with Economy, Science and Transport Minister Edwina Hart during the next few months.

ver 100 people attended a meeting amid hopes a rail link between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen can be reopened.

The meeting in Aberystwyth was organised by campaign group Traws Link Cymru which revealed its hopes for a 90 minute service between the two towns.

The line closed in 1965 and at that time the journey took almost three hours, stopping at over 20 stations.

But reinstating the 56-mile line could cost around £650m. The group is trying to get funding for a feasibility study.

The meeting heard that around 3% of the track bed has been built on but Traws Link Cymru said that was no obstacle to reopening the line.

Ceredigion AM Elin Jones was at the meeting and said she would arrange for members of the group to meet with Economy, Science and Transport Minister Edwina Hart during the next few months.

 

[editor]

Nice little vid:

 

[davesgcr]

A bit of pre-election posturing I suspect - words are free , - as a seasoned railwayman and Welshman , I can 100% say "no chance" .........the line carried about a 100 people each way in its heyday....(unless of course a special tax was raised to fund it) , this when the Welsh NHS has had budget cuts and so on.

 

[Dogsauce]

Plenty of more densely populated places in the country (including Wales) without a train service, can't see this ever happening.

 

[davesgcr]

A sensible option would be to rebuild Afon Wen - Caernarfon - Menai Bridge (for Bangor) - bigger population quota and would link the beautiful , but slow Cambrian Coast to the much faster access to that there London and Brum / North West etc. The top NE corner of Wales......

Often wonder what / if would have happened had the Vale of Rheidol built their planned extension from Aber to Aberaeron via Llanarth along the coast. Now that would be a great scenic ride. Had they done so , I suspect it would have like many French Rural "Lignes locale" - died in the 1930's. .......

 

[SikhWarrioR]

A sensible option would be to rebuild Afon Wen - Caernarfon - Menai Bridge (for Bangor) - bigger population quota and would link the beautiful , but slow Cambrian Coast to the much faster access to that there London and Brum / North West etc. The top NE corner of Wales......

Often wonder what / if would have happened had the Vale of Rheidol built their planned extension from Aber to Aberaeron via Llanarth along the coast. Now that would be a great scenic ride. Had they done so , I suspect it would have like many French Rural "Lignes locale" - died in the 1930's. .......

Like the now revived Welsh Highland ? anyway any Rail reopening is good especially if they use loco hauled stock or put decent sized luggage compartments on the units for bikes etc like the first gen DMUs had even the single cars And a vastly better investment than the £125bn they are gonna spunk on Great Britain's new Maginot Line the Trident replacement

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

The campaign group have accidentally left a lot of ipsum lorem on their webpages which makes them hard to read

 

[editor]

They're going forward with a study: £300k for Aberystwyth-Carmarthen railway line study - BBC News

I'd love to travel this line.

 

[agricola]

They're going forward with a study: £300k for Aberystwyth-Carmarthen railway line study - BBC News

I'd love to travel this line.

It would be great, but even in Welsh terms there would be far better uses to which half a billion pounds could be put. Electrifying (as part of the Merseyrail network) the Borderlands route and rebuilding the Denbigh - Chester line as a part of it, for instance.

 

[editor]

It would be great, but even in Welsh terms there would be far better uses to which half a billion pounds could be put. Electrifying (as part of the Merseyrail network) the Borderlands route and rebuilding the Denbigh - Chester line as a part of it, for instance.

Depends in where you live, of course.

 

[agricola]

Depends in where you live, of course.

It does, and in an ideal world we could have both (and the rest of the schemes to rebuild routes that should never have been closed) - but in terms of getting people off buses and out of their cars and onto the train, quite a bit more would be achieved in North-East Wales and the Wirral than in Aberystwyth and Camarthen.

 

[editor]

It does, and in an ideal world we could have both (and the rest of the schemes to rebuild routes that should never have been closed) - but in terms of getting people off buses and out of their cars and onto the train, quite a bit more would be achieved in North-East Wales and the Wirral than in Aberystwyth and Camarthen.

I don't see it as an either/or choice. You're certainly already better served by public transport in the Wirral than you are west of Carmarthen.

 

[davesgcr]

NIce idea , but far greater issues elsewhere in Wales , notably the Valleys where the desire to electrify and further develop the Network is somewhat buggered by the go ahead not being given yet , and the present train fleet of 142 and 143 sets lose their accessibility rating in 2020. Cost around £700 million. No derogation , no trains - period.

All very well having aspirations , but the "day job" ought to come first. Even more so . one ought to contribute to areas where there are people. This is just political Plaid / Labour political posturing.

 

[editor]

I can't see it happening but it would be a major boost to the areas, particularly for tourism. I'd love to travel the line.

A DRAFT report on the possibility of reopening the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway line will shortly be considered by the Welsh Government, the Cambrian News understands.

It follows the Welsh Government’s setting-up of a £300,000 feasibility study into the mooted scheme last summer following a high-profile campaign by lobby group Traws Link Cymru.

Supporters of the scheme – who include AM Elin Jones and MP Ben Lake – believe a reopened rail line would provide an essential transport link between the north and south.

Traws Link Cymru says a 2015 scoping study concluded that over 97 per cent of the former trackbed was free of development and that there were no major obstacles in reinstating the line, which closed to passengers in 1965.

Speaking last August, chairman Adrian Kendon said: “We are absolutely delighted that the full feasibility study is finally going ahead.

“Traws Link Cymru will be fully involved with the work to provide local knowledge and statistics to the engineers.”

Mr Kendon added: “You only have to look at the success of the Borders railway in Scotland to see that reinstated lines breathe new life into areas, bringing investment and tourism which boosts the local economy.

“It shows that if you build it, they will come.”

However, opponents argue that such a move would be unrealistic due to projected costs, while others believe money could be better spent on improving trunk roads such as the A487.

Government to discuss Aberystwyth-Carmarthen rail line reopening findings

Our plan calls for the two phase development of rail links through west Wales. While the population of the region may be low, diagnosis the benefits would be great and through linking the three east-west routes of the Welsh railway network would bring benefits to the whole of Wales. As well as local traffic,thumb travel between south, west, mid and north west Wales would be significantly enhanced bringing wide economic and social benefits. The proposals will also create a north-south route wholly within Wales, connecting the nation and providing a useful diversionary route for both passenger and freight trains.

Phase 1 calls for a new railway between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth. This would involve around 60 miles of new and re-built railway with stations serving major communities on route such as Pencader/Llandysul, Llanybydder, Lampeter, Tregaron and Llanilar – all with park and ride facilities. This would be coupled with work on the Swansea District Line and a new station at Morriston to support a fast, direct train service between Cardiff – Carmarthen – Lampeter – Aberystwyth. This would give competitive journey times of:

• Aberystwyth – Cardiff 3 hours
• Lampeter – Cardiff 2 hours 15 minutes
• Aberystwyth – Carmarthen 1 hour 30 minutes

The Carmarthen – Aberystwyth train could be combined with a Milford Haven or Fishguard service between Cardiff and Carmarthen, and could be extended to Machynlleth for connections up the Cambrian Coast Line. services would be hourly.

Most of the original line is not built on and so could be re-used where appropriate, however where there has been development and where a new alignment would allow for faster speeds, a new course would need to be built.

Phase 2 calls for 25 miles of new and re-built railway between Afon-Wen on the Cambrian Coast Line and Bangor, coupled with incremental improvements along the Cambrian Coast line to improve journey times. The current Machynlleth – Pwllheli service would be formed of 2 trains which would divide at Afon-Wen with portions for both Pwllheli and Bangor via Caernarfon. This would provide a train service every 2 hours to link mid and north west Wales, with a more frequent local service between Bangor and Porthmadog. While some of the Bangor to Afon-Wen line has been lost to road developments, significant stretches are still clear and the geography of the area allows for a new alignment to be built where needed.

The Cardiff – Bangor journey along the western route would not be a quicker route than the current service via Shrewsbury, but many intermediate journeys would be significantly speeded up. Journeys such as Aberystwyth – Swansea, Lampeter – Machynlleth and Pwllheli – Bangor become possible in a way which they are not at present.
Our proposals – Traws Link Cymru

More: Why the West Wales Line might not be a pipedream

 

[editor]

Feasibility study here. I don't think there'll be trains any time soon, if ever, which is a real shame. A railway would make a huge difference for Wales.

Aberystwyth to Carmarthen rail reinstatement feasibility study | beta.gov.wales

 

[davesgcr]

Feasibility study here. I don't think there'll be trains any time soon, if ever, which is a real shame. A railway would make a huge difference for Wales.

Aberystwyth to Carmarthen rail reinstatement feasibility study | beta.gov.wales

There are not many people around , more committed than me , for the development and operation of the Welsh railways , and I can tangibly claim some real improvements , but this really is not where any money should be spent. Plenty of other better places.

 

[mojo pixy]

I would have loved this when I was living in Aberystwyth and my mum was dying in Southampton and I had to travel back and forth for weeks, 6 hours each way minimum. Two buses a day from Aberystwyth to Camarthen, and the last one leaves Aber before 2pm so best not get too comfy in town...

I'd probably move back there if this railway existed, but then so would lots of other people too. Poor Aberystwyth, I wonder if anyone in the town is kind of hoping this never gets built?

 

[StoneRoad]

There is a "slight" problem in Cearnarvon ... the tunnel now has a road in it, and there is another railway on part of the trackbed.

Leaving that aside, this whole line would be a lovely ride.
Would need a lot of investment ... but if Scotland can re-open part of the Waverly route ...

 

[existentialist]

There is a "slight" problem in Cearnarvon ... the tunnel now has a road in it, and there is another railway on part of the trackbed.

Leaving that aside, this whole line would be a lovely ride.
Would need a lot of investment ... but if Scotland can re-open part of the Waverly route ...

The thing with the Waverley route is that there are enough communities of significant size along the route to make it likely to be profitable.

The Carmarthen-Aber route winds (slowly) through pretty remote, hilly countryside that doesn't offer, as of this moment, much in the way of business.

That said, it would be a lovely line, and - who knows? - opening up a better transport link through that part of the world might encourage more people to move to (or just stay in) the area, knowing that they could travel more easily to and from larger towns. It's not going to happen, though. Any more than anything sensible would to deal with two shiploads a day of enormous trucks trundling up and down the A477 might be done, such as running an intermodal freight service from Swansea to Pembroke Dock and back...

 

[davesgcr]

The thing with the Waverley route is that there are enough communities of significant size along the route to make it likely to be profitable.

The Carmarthen-Aber route winds (slowly) through pretty remote, hilly countryside that doesn't offer, as of this moment, much in the way of business.

That said, it would be a lovely line, and - who knows? - opening up a better transport link through that part of the world might encourage more people to move to (or just stay in) the area, knowing that they could travel more easily to and from larger towns. It's not going to happen, though. Any more than anything sensible would to deal with two shiploads a day of enormous trucks trundling up and down the A477 might be done, such as running an intermodal freight service from Swansea to Pembroke Dock and back...

The railway north of Carmarthen was an utter basket case in the 19thC , dreamed up by a Victorians fantasy on cotton form the USA landing at Milford Haven and being transported by rail over the Plynlymmon range. Had it not been for the development of long distance milk flows in the 20thC , even less use would have been made of an utter charming line. To use the buzz word of "connectivity" Aberystwyth is very likely to get an hourly service to Shrewsbury - connecting to more services to Birmingham and London. At the south end - better and faster links from Carmarthen towards Cardiff and beyond can be done by using the scandulously underused Swansea District line - avoiding the time consuming reversal at High Street. There is , a pretty decent bus service Aberystwyth to Carmarthen - hourly.

Whilst the Ebbw Vale racked up a million users in one year , the Vale of Glamorgan beat it's annual budget in about 3 months , - and the Waverley line clocked up over 400,000 passengers a year from one station - the Dylan Thomas haunted "milk lands" can come knowhere close to matching this.

All these lines need ongoing subsidy in any case - not just capital cost. From experience - this quoted figure is probably way too low.

 

[Dogsauce]

Thought there would be a reasonable case for reconnecting Caernarfon, but the rest seems to be a bit in the realms of fantasy, and the timings aren’t an advantage over road travel.

 

[Dogsauce]

Actually, scratch that idea, it looks like some bellends have foolishly built a bypass over a good chunk of the formation!

 

[Plumdaff]

I suppose part of the attraction of this is getting a North South Wales train link. Does anyone know whether there's a way that could be done going up from Newport towards Shrewsbury to Aber that way?

 

[kebabking]

I suppose part of the attraction of this is getting a North South Wales train link. Does anyone know whether there's a way that could be done going up from Newport towards Shrewsbury to Aber that way?

There was one - Cambrian Railway. Merthyr up to Brecon, then Bulith Wells, Rhayader and up to the Shrewsbury-Newtown-Mach line.

Quite what's left of it, and what kind of speeds you'd be able to achieve given the terrain and whether it would be a single track line, are matters for further reflection...

 

[planetgeli]

then Bulith Wells.

Builth. “As in ‘filth’”. (Sic)

This was my introduction, from an estate agent, to mid-Wales.

 

[kebabking]

Builth. “As in ‘filth’”. (Sic)

This was my introduction, from an estate agent, to mid-Wales.

Bloody phone!

Builth has always been my favourite of the towns. The butcher sells the best faggots in the world's, and the Chinese takeaway will deliver a meal for 20 up onto Sennybridge training area in an old Tea packing case...

 

[davesgcr]

There was one - Cambrian Railway. Merthyr up to Brecon, then Bulith Wells, Rhayader and up to the Shrewsbury-Newtown-Mach line.

Quite what's left of it, and what kind of speeds you'd be able to achieve given the terrain and whether it would be a single track line, are matters for further reflection...

The most tortuous and slow route imaginable via Builth Road and Llanidloes ...an absolute basket case which though gloriously scenic , (and well recorded in it's last days) was basically a local service which actually employed more staff on a daily basis than the number of passengers carried. No real freight of any great consequence though there was a moment of glory in World War 1 when steam coal for the Grand Fleet via Grangemouth was diverted this way. Very hard work for the crews , and being wartime , the railways did not get paid for this.

There were some efforts to run more innovative services - a 1930's , Saturday only train from Treherbet to Aberystwyth - must have been an absolute ordeal for the non car owners , but who could afford a week or so in the Biarritz of Wales.

Even now , you could run a direct service from say Aberystwyth via Newtown to Shrewsbury - thence to Cardiff via Hereford etc in about 4 hours 20 , - BUT - as South Wales looks to Cardiff /Bristol and London - MId Wales looks to the West Midlands and beyond. (North Wales looks to Manchester , Liverpool , London etc)

Obviously low numbers from Mid Wales to South Wales ...not enough for a billion pound railway. My expert - still working mates - agree the idea is underfunded for reality.

However , should I be proven wrong - the first round in Aber is on me.

 

[editor]

Well, at least the bridge is ready to go at Carmarthen!

 

[existentialist]

Well, at least the bridge is ready to go at Carmarthen!

And the Gwili Railway comes as far as Abergwili Junction...just a shame that, as ever, someone built a bloody bypass all over the trackbed into Carmarthen itself (and, I think, where the bridge over the river used to be, too).

Interesting how often these railways end up under bypasses.

 

[davesgcr]

And the Gwili Railway comes as far as Abergwili Junction...just a shame that, as ever, someone built a bloody bypass all over the trackbed into Carmarthen itself (and, I think, where the bridge over the river used to be, too).

Interesting how often these railways end up under bypasses.

Just behind the pallasade fencing is a Berlin wall of sorts , which is part of Carmarthen's much needed flood protection. The rather nice bridge beyond - before the junction for Llandeilo / Carmarthen was removed many years ago.