Future for Gwili Railway after Carmarthen-Aberystwyth line reopening.

[Joseph T]

Since the Gwili Railway lies right on the the ROW of the former Carmarthen-Aberystwyth line, assuming they don't create a completely new ROW that avoids it entirely, what do you think may happen to them?

I think their best option would be to partially/fully reopen the Cardigan branch line and move their operations there.

 

[The Planner]

Since the Gwili Railway lies right on the the ROW of the former Carmarthen-Aberystwyth line, assuming they don't create a completely new ROW that avoids it entirely, what do you think may happen to them?

I think their best option would be to partially/fully reopen the Cardigan branch line and move their operations there.

They don't have anything to worry about. Thats not reopening.

 

[dk1]

They don't have anything to worry about. Thats not reopening.

Just what I was going to say. It’s an absolute basket case.

 

[SargeNpton]

Can the OP explain why they think the line is reopening?

 

[Zomboid]

The Carmarthen to Aberystwth line is not going to reopen, so it's academic. But if it did they'd receive a bunch of money for their land which they'd spend however seemed best. It'd probably just about cover moving their equipment off site.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Curmudgeonly spoilsports. All of you!
More importantly, assuming two platforms will be required at Aberystwyth, where will the Wetherspoons drinkers relocate to?

 

[geoffk]

assuming two platforms will be required at Aberystwyth, where will the Wetherspoons drinkers relocate to?

And how would you cross the Vale of Rheidol line?

 

[simonw]

Curmudgeonly spoilsports. All of you!
More importantly, assuming two platforms will be required at Aberystwyth, where will the Wetherspoons drinkers relocate to?

Presumably to the bar on the train - see titfield thunderbolt for details.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Presumably to the bar on the train - see titfield thunderbolt for details.

If that is what is required to get the re-opening 'over the line', so be it. Remember Gwynedd was a 'dry county' for a very long time.

PS I think getting this regularly regurgitated proposal over the line will require rather more than 'a few' on board drinks.

The Government has scrapped a 122-year-old rule which allowed Sunday drinking to be banned in Wales.
The Dwyfor district of Gwynedd, which became the last area in the country to go "wet", will never again be able to return to "dry" Sundays.

Source: BBC News article from 2003, which I appreciate is a long time ago for many listeners. Time called on drink ban rule.

 

[simonw]

If that is what is required to get the re-opening 'over the line', so be it. Remember Gwynedd was a 'dry county' for a very long time.

PS I think getting this regularly regurgitated proposal over the line will require rather more than 'a few' on board drinks.



Source: BBC News article from 2003, which I appreciate is a long time ago for many listeners. Time called on drink ban rule.

Mr Valentine, what do you do in

the morning before this place opens?

I wait impatient for the day to dawn.

Suppose the day dawned

at 13 minutes to nine.

Mr Chesterford, you're a poet,

a dreamer of beautiful dreams.

There is nothing in law to prevent

a railway company opening a bar

in one of its trains

whenever that train is under way.

Give us your backing and we'll run

a bar on the Titfield-Mallingford line

- every morning and afternoon.
You... You wouldn't tease

an old man, would you?

Mr Weech, you wouldn't joke

about a sacred subject.

I am assured

it will be quite, quite legal.

You can write your own timetable.

My very dear sir,

you can write your own cheque!

Hallelujah!

 

[richard_S]

The Gwili Railway can be bypassed. There was a line from Carmarthen to Ffairfach this could be diverted to join the line just south of Ffairfach station and head North. At Bulith Road there was a line to Moat Lane junction this would connect to the Cambrian line. Then reinstate the line from Afonwen junction to Caernarfon then to Bangor with a cord at Treborth for Holyhead and on to Bangor.

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[childwallblues]

Just what I was going to say. It’s an absolute basket case.

The welsh government has often behaved in a basket case way so this might fit their ambitions.

 

[gazthomas]

The welsh government has often behaved in a basket case way so this might fit their ambitions.

They can't even get the Newport M4 relief road or the third Menai Crossing sorted, let alone build a railway in a very rural area.

 

[Harpo]

And how would you cross the Vale of Rheidol line?

The original fairly flat coast and river bank approach into Aberystwyth is quite developed now. A Rheidol (river) crossing would need to be further east, probably needing a new (i.e. expensive) inland approach from Llanfarian to the Llanbadarn Fawr area.

Crayons away. Not happening.

 

[35B]

The Gwili Railway can be bypassed. There was a line from Carmarthen to Ffairfach this could be diverted to join the line just south of Ffairfach station and head North. At Bulith Road there was a line to Moat Lane junction this would connect to the Cambrian line. Then reinstate the line from Afonwen junction to Caernarfon then to Bangor with a cord at Treborth for Holyhead and on to Bangor.

And I thought that reopening the Carmarthen - Aber line was a basket case project

 

[richard_S]

And I thought that reopening the Carmarthen - Aber line was a basket case project

Just reopening the line from Carmarthen to Ffairfach would reduce times from Carmarthen to the north.

 

[35B]

Just reopening the line from Carmarthen to Ffairfach would reduce times from Carmarthen to the north.

The demand for which would be?

The idea of creating such a north-south railway doesn't belong in this speculative thread, but it is hard to conceive of a less promising route for through traffic than this daisy chain of marginal routes

 

[Envoy]

The Gwili Railway can be bypassed. There was a line from Carmarthen to Ffairfach this could be diverted to join the line just south of Ffairfach station and head North. At Bulith Road there was a line to Moat Lane junction this would connect to the Cambrian line. Then reinstate the line from Afonwen junction to Caernarfon then to Bangor with a cord at Treborth for Holyhead and on to Bangor.

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It would not be viable to go from Carmarthen via Ffairfach (Llandeilo) and up the Heart of Wales Line to Builth Road and then re-build the former rail link to Moat Lane Junction and hence the Cambrian line. This would be a complete zig zag route and besides, the former railway from Carmarthen to Ffairfach (Llandeilo) has just had a load of money spent converting it into a cycleway.

"The landmark 13-mile walking and cycling route through the Tywi Valley has been officially opened, marking a major milestone for sustainable travel and tourism in Carmarthenshire.

The Tywi Valley Path, which follows the route of a former railway line closed in 1963, has been delivered through a £16.7 million investment from the UK Government, alongside funding and support from Carmarthenshire County Council and regional contractors."

Tywi Valley Path - Carmarthenshire County Council

www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales

Perhaps the new Welsh Government will build a new high speed line linking Carmarthen with Bangor with stops at Lampeter, Aberystwyth, Machynlleth, Dolgellau, Porthmadog, Caernarfon & Bangor? (Yes, I am joking).

However, from this autumn (2026), a Welsh Government subsidised express coach service will operate up the western side of Wales linking the aforementioned places. I think this is a very good idea though I guess over 60’s might stick to the present slower Traws Cymru services as they offer free travel but the new service does not.

The Welsh government said the service, which will cost about £2m to run in the first year, will improve connectivity, access to jobs, education and healthcare.

Deputy transport minister, Mark Hooper, said: "For decades, many rural communities have been ill-served by public transport, but this new coach service is the first step in improving connectivity between the north and the south of Wales."

New bus route linking Carmarthen and Bangor to launch by autumn

The Welsh government say the service will cost about £2m to run in the first year.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Zomboid]

would not be viable to go from Carmarthen via Ffairfach (Llandeilo) and up the Heart of Wales Line to Builth Road and then re-build the former rail link to Moat Lane Junction and hence the Cambrian line. This would be a complete zig zag route and besides, the former railway from Carmarthen to Ffairfach (Llandeilo) has just had a load of money spent converting it into a cycleway

It's already possible to go via Llanelli anyway, and there's nobody to serve between there. Maybe using the Heart of Wales to provide a link would be less hilariously unviable - but not by enough to not be hilariously unviable.

 

[Harpo]

If there’s any seriousness to through coastal journeys, introducing all day connections at Dovey Jn would be needed. That probably needs all or most of Machynlleth to Dovey Jn. To be doubled.

 

[Llanigraham]

The Gwili Railway can be bypassed. There was a line from Carmarthen to Ffairfach this could be diverted to join the line just south of Ffairfach station and head North. At Bulith Road there was a line to Moat Lane junction this would connect to the Cambrian line. Then reinstate the line from Afonwen junction to Caernarfon then to Bangor with a cord at Treborth for Holyhead and on to Bangor.

That proposal is even more fanciful than reopening the Aberystwyth Carmarthen line.