Milford Haven Transport Interchange

[Envoy]

Looks like things are moving forward for the new transport interchange at Milford Haven station.

More details here:> https://www.milford-haven-transport-interchange.co.uk/home

"Pembrokeshire County Council has worked with AtkinsRéalis to design the plans for the new transport interchange. Together, we’ve collaborated with key partners including Network Rail, Transport for Wales and Milford Haven Port Authority to make the project a success."

 

[fgwrich]

Interesting, and good to see 150s now seem to have a future in TfW then, even operating as 6 cars!

However, I hadn’t realised how sparse Milford Haven station currently is, and that new proposal offers equally little in the way of actual shelter either. It seems bizarre having a centrally located ticket office, no real canopy on the platforms and your only shelter is an open Bandstand like ”Podium”.

 

[tigermonstera]

These upgrades will also allow trains to and from London to serve Milford Haven, helping you reach more destinations, more easily.

I'm interested as to which parts of this project enable the London service? I can't seem to find anything about it in attached PDF.

 

[Anonymous10]

I'm interested as to which parts of this project enable the London service? I can't seem to find anything about it in attached PDF.

Whats the proposed London service?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2025 ==

Looks like things are moving forward for the new transport interchange at Milford Haven station.

More details here:> https://www.milford-haven-transport-interchange.co.uk/home

Its facing some criticism locally as locals would rather see a ticket office, waiting room and toilet added with remodelling of the current platform and car park. The shelter is not popular locally.

 

[tigermonstera]

Whats the proposed London service?

Unfortunately I don't know more about it, only what the website is saying.

 

[Anonymous10]

Unfortunately I don't know more about it, only what the website is saying.

I would go along to the consultation as I live nearby however im unfortunately working.

 

[John R]

So steps leading up the platform are described as an informal sitting area. Really? Who wants to sit on steps that will have had muddy feet and goodness knows what else on them?

 

[Envoy]

I think the High Speed service to London is more wishful thinking by local politicians. No section of track is more than 75mph west of Swansea and only one short section is 100 mph between Cardiff & Swansea. That said, from Carmarthen to Clarbeston Road the route is less bendy and you would think that higher speeds could be allowed?

I can’t understand why the second track at Milford Haven station was removed recently by Network Rail as it could have been used for ‘parking’ special trains such as the Britannic Explorer. (Looks like the Britannic Explorer will be going to Haverfordwest and then going all the way back to Llanelli and up the Heart of Wales line with the wealthy passengers not getting off in Pembrokeshire and therefore contributing nothing to the local economy).

Brunel originally had the idea of running trains from London through to Neyland where they could transfer to ships to cross the ocean to America. You can see his statue at Neyland in my photo below:>

 

[John R]

I can’t understand why the second track at Milford Haven station was removed recently by Network Rail as it could have been used for ‘parking’ special trains such as the Britannic Explorer.

Having spent four nights in MH recently whilst walking the coastal path, and being in a hotel within sight of the station, I can safely say that the idea of it being a destination where railtour passengers could get off and spend a few hours before boarding for the return journey is somewhat fanciful. Unless you count around a dozen shops and restaurants at the Marina as a go to destination.

 

[Envoy]

Having spent four nights in MH recently whilst walking the coastal path, and being in a hotel within sight of the station, I can safely say that the idea of it being a destination where railtour passengers could get off and spend a few hours before boarding for the return journey is somewhat fanciful. Unless you count around a dozen shops and restaurants at the Marina as a go to destination.

I was thinking that they could be taken by hired coaches to places on the coast or by boat if available. Alternatively, they could alight at Haverfordwest and be taken by hired coaches to St.David’s with a stop at Solva - with the train ‘parked’ at Milford Haven - which can't now happen because Network Rail decided to rip up the unused track at the station.

Tenby is the place where the Britannic Explorer should really let the passengers alight, but I guess there is nowhere to park the train.

 

[John R]

I was thinking that they could be taken by hired coaches to places on the coast or by boat if available. Alternatively, they could alight at Haverfordwest and be taken by hired coaches to St.David’s with a stop at Solva - with the train ‘parked’ at Milford Haven - which can't now happen because Network Rail decided to rip up the unused track at the station.

Tenby is the place where the Britannic Explorer should really let the passengers alight, but I guess there is nowhere to park the train.

I’m sure they could park for a couple of hours on one of the oil branches if top and tailed.

St David’s is probably the best destination for a couple of hours. The beaches are stunning, but not much there if you are not going with a bucket and spade and very weather dependent.

 

[Anonymous10]

Having spent four nights in MH recently whilst walking the coastal path, and being in a hotel within sight of the station, I can safely say that the idea of it being a destination where railtour passengers could get off and spend a few hours before boarding for the return journey is somewhat fanciful. Unless you count around a dozen shops and restaurants at the Marina as a go to destination.

Tenby would be a better option.

 

[Rhydgaled]

I'm interested as to which parts of this project enable the London service?

If anything, the result of these proposals appears to be the loss of 60 metres of track, with the line being cut back towards Haverfordwest rather than extended towards Milford Haven to reduce the walking distance into the town and/or accomodate a longer platform (eg. for London services).

Whats the proposed London service?

I think the new Labour MP (who I met once at his office in Haverfordwest) might be trying to get a GWR service introduced. If you ask me the bigger issue is the fact Carmarthen cannot accomodate a 9-car IET and the 5-car ones have never made much sense to me.

Its facing some criticism locally as locals would rather see a ticket office,

Is the independent ticket office still in business? The station's Wikipedia article claims it is, but it wouldn't be the first time Wiki was out of date.

I can’t understand why the second track at Milford Haven station was removed recently by Network Rail as it could have been used for ‘parking’ special trains such as the Britannic Explorer.

The loop at Milford Haven was lifted a fair while ago wasn't it? Wasnt' the Britannic Explorer stock still in Ireland as the 'Belmond Grand Hibernian' back when the loop was removed? There are plenty of other special trains out there of course, such as the Northern Belle, but that didn't stop Network Rail removing the loops at Fishguard Harbour and Pembroke Dock as well (I'm pretty sure they went during Arriva Trains Wales franchise).

Looks like the Britannic Explorer will be going to Haverfordwest and then going all the way back to Llanelli

Is that why some of the daytime services on the Milford Haven branch this coming week are replaced by road transport and a mystery STP loco-hauled working between Whitland and Haverfordwest and/or Johnston? Doesn't seem to be a normal engineering block as the morning and evening TfW trains are shown as running.

 

[fishwomp]

Is that why some of the daytime services on the Milford Haven branch this coming week are replaced by road transport and a mystery STP loco-hauled working between Whitland and Haverfordwest and/or Johnston? Doesn't seem to be a normal engineering block as the morning and evening TfW trains are shown as running.

No - there's some engineering https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/engi...etween-carmarthen-and-milford-haven-20251006/

Description​

Engineering work is taking place between Clarbeston Road and Milford Haven, closing some lines throughout the week from Monday morning until Thursday evening.

As a result, the following trains will run to / from Carmarthen instead of to / from Milford Haven. Replacement buses will run between Carmarthen and Milford Haven:

• The 07:40 Cardiff Central to Milford Haven service
• The 05:54 Crewe to Milford Haven service
• The 07:30 Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven service
• The 11:00 Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly service
• The 12:00 Milford Haven to Cardiff Central service
• The 14:00 Milford Haven to Cardiff Central service

 

[Anonymous10]

If anything, the result of these proposals appears to be the loss of 60 metres of track, with the line being cut back towards Haverfordwest rather than extended towards Milford Haven to reduce the walking distance into the town and/or accomodate a longer platform (eg. for London services).


I think the new Labour MP (who I met once at his office in Haverfordwest) might be trying to get a GWR service introduced. If you ask me the bigger issue is the fact Carmarthen cannot accomodate a 9-car IET and the 5-car ones have never made much sense to me.


Is the independent ticket office still in business? The station's Wikipedia article claims it is, but it wouldn't be the first time Wiki was out of date.


The loop at Milford Haven was lifted a fair while ago wasn't it? Wasnt' the Britannic Explorer stock still in Ireland as the 'Belmond Grand Hibernian' back when the loop was removed? There are plenty of other special trains out there of course, such as the Northern Belle, but that didn't stop Network Rail removing the loops at Fishguard Harbour and Pembroke Dock as well (I'm pretty sure they went during Arriva Trains Wales franchise).


Is that why some of the daytime services on the Milford Haven branch this coming week are replaced by road transport and a mystery STP loco-hauled working between Whitland and Haverfordwest and/or Johnston? Doesn't seem to be a normal engineering block as the morning and evening TfW trains are shown as running.

To be fair, looking at satellite view on Google maps the 60m they're cutting back is the track which extends past the platform which is not used and thus no harm in removing it. To bring the station any closer to the town would mean ALOT of work including a tunnel or new roundabout in the centre of town and remodelling the privately owned harbour as thats the only closer place. Milford town is set atop the hill after all.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Oct 2025 ==

Is the independent ticket office still in business? The station's Wikipedia article claims it is, but it wouldn't be the first time Wiki was out of date.

Not to my knowledge, I believe it has been closed for some time with the main ticket office now being Haverfordwest (only one in the county)

 

[fishwomp]

To be fair, looking at satellite view on Google maps the 60m they're cutting back is the track which extends past the platform which is not used and thus no harm in removing it. To bring the station any closer to the town would mean ALOT of work including a tunnel or new roundabout in the centre of town and remodelling the privately owned harbour as thats the only closer place. Milford town is set atop the hill after all.

There is already a tunnel. This is the remnants of the Newton Noyes branch that closed in the 1980s or early '90s - used for MoD traffic. You can see the harbour-side of that tunnel )well, it's more a long-ish road overbridge) here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JzVMbTAFqjX52ETR8 in the streetview.

 

[John R]

There is already a tunnel. This is the remnants of the Newton Noyes branch that closed in the 1980s or early '90s - used for MoD traffic. You can see the harbour-side of that tunnel )well, it's more a long-ish road overbridge) here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JzVMbTAFqjX52ETR8 in the streetview.

Indeed, and an area of car parking that could easily be used for a basic station and some residual car parking. But I'm not exactly sure what the benefit would be, and for a station with more than 3 coach length capacity you would have to extend to the area that on google maps is shown as a place to lay up boats.

(That car park is currently used by the Ty Milford Waterfront, although I think it is still council owned land. Tried to use it when staying at the hotel recently, but it was always full, so ended up parking at the Mackerel Quay parking.)

 

[Anonymous10]

There is already a tunnel. This is the remnants of the Newton Noyes branch that closed in the 1980s or early '90s - used for MoD traffic. You can see the harbour-side of that tunnel )well, it's more a long-ish road overbridge) here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JzVMbTAFqjX52ETR8 in the streetview.

However it is now blocked by the costa coffee built some 10 years ago.

 

[DelW]

I think the new Labour MP (who I met once at his office in Haverfordwest) might be trying to get a GWR service introduced. If you ask me the bigger issue is the fact Carmarthen cannot accomodate a 9-car IET and the 5-car ones have never made much sense to me.

One of the regular service patterns from Paddington is (or at least was) 2 x 5 car from PAD to Swansea, then splitting with 1 x 5 car continuing to Carmarthen. That could be extended to Milford Haven, though whether that would be a sensible use of resources is another matter.

The loop at Milford Haven was lifted a fair while ago wasn't it? Wasnt' the Britannic Explorer stock still in Ireland as the 'Belmond Grand Hibernian' back when the loop was removed? There are plenty of other special trains out there of course, such as the Northern Belle, but that didn't stop Network Rail removing the loops at Fishguard Harbour and Pembroke Dock as well (I'm pretty sure they went during Arriva Trains Wales franchise).

It was still insitu when I was there in 2012, but it's not shown in my 2018 Quail.