General information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Location | Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire Wales | ||||
Coordinates | 51°51′11″N4°18′22″W / 51.853°N 4.306°W | ||||
Grid reference | SN412196 | ||||
Managed by | Transport for Wales | ||||
Platforms | 2 | ||||
Other information | |||||
Station code | CMN | ||||
Classification | DfT category D | ||||
History | |||||
Opened | 1902 | ||||
Passengers | |||||
2018/19 | 0.383 million | ||||
Interchange | 14,300 | ||||
2019/20 | 0.362 million | ||||
Interchange | 14,813 | ||||
2020/21 | 76,852 | ||||
Interchange | 2,120 | ||||
2021/22 | 0.256 million | ||||
Interchange | 8,420 | ||||
2022/23 | 0.293 million | ||||
Interchange | 9,634 | ||||
|
Carmarthen railway station is on the West Wales Line serving the town of Carmarthen,Wales,south of the River Towy,245 miles 55 chains (395.4 km) from the zero point at London Paddington,measured via Stroud. [1] The station is operated by Transport for Wales. Great Western Railway also run a limited service between Carmarthen and London Paddington,usually six trains each way daily with an additional return service to Bristol Parkway.
The present station is the third to serve the town and dates from 1902, [2] although the South Wales Railway's main line from Swansea to Neyland reached Carmarthen some fifty years earlier. This original station had been built with westward expansion in mind and was situated at the base of the triangular junction,half a mile south of the present station and poorly sited for the town.
A second station (Carmarthen Town) was opened by the Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway in 1860 [3] on its route northwards towards Cynwyl Elfed and Pencader which was much better sited for the town (on the opposite side of the river) and this remained in use until its replacement by the current station shortly after the turn of the century. The Town station did however remain in use for goods traffic thereafter beyond the closure of the final portion of the line Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway in September 1973,until the goods yard closed around 1981 –the single track girder bridge over the River Tywi was subsequently removed during 1983.
The Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway,in spite of its name,never actually reached Cardigan,as it was constructed only as far as Newcastle Emlyn (which was reached only in 1895). Cardigan was eventually served instead by the winding Whitland and Cardigan Branch Line from Whitland,the primary junction in Pembrokeshire. The C&CR did however link up with the ill-fated Manchester and Milford Railway at Pencader,putting the town on a through route to Aberystwyth by 1867.
Another outlet to the north was the Llanelly Railway's branch from Llandeilo,which reached Abergwili Junction in 1864 and whose trains reached the Town station by means of running powers following its takeover by the London &North Western Railway (LNWR) in 1873. The final link in the chain of lines to the north was added in 1911,when a branch line from Lampeter to Aberaeron was opened by the Lampeter,Aberayron and New Quay Light Railway. This was worked by the Great Western Railway from the outset,as the company had by this time absorbed the other lines mentioned (apart from the Llandeilo branch,which remained in LNWR hands until the 1923 Grouping).
None of the lines to the north survive,the first round of closures having begun as early as May 1951 when the Aberaeron line lost its passenger trains. The Newcastle Emlyn line followed suit in September 1952,whilst the Llandeilo branch went in September 1963 and the 'main line' to Aberystwyth in February 1965, [4] although milk trains continued to operate as far as Pont Llanio (near Tregaron) on the Aberystwyth main line until 1970 and to Newcastle Emlyn and to Felinfach on the Aberaeron branch until September 1973. This left only the original South Wales Railway main line to serve the station and left it as a terminus at the end of short spur from the main line at which all trains have to reverse before continuing their journeys. This was not so much of a problem with DMUs but led to the need for a run-round of locomotive-hauled trains which were regularly used until the mid-1980s. Only two of the five original platforms here (the former platforms 2 and 3) are now used,with the majority of trains using the former down main platform (now numbered 1) where the main facilities are located. The other active platform (formerly platform 3,now renumbered 2) is used when two trains are scheduled to call at the same time (also for unit stabling) –it is linked to platform one by a barrow crossing that spans the shunting neck that is used for locos to run around their trains. This is the sole remnant of the former route north. [5]
Historically,the line to Aberystwyth and Llandeilo continued beyond the station across the River Towy past the site of the goods yard (now a builders yard) and then through a cutting (that has since been buried under the Carmarthen eastern by-pass dual carriageway) to as far as the former Abergwili Junction.
The Aberystwyth line then turned north out to Bronwydd Arms. From Abergwili Junction northwards,the railway trackbed resumes and is owned by the preserved Gwili Railway which runs preserved trains along part of the Aberystwyth line,through the valley of the River Gwili,from Abergwili Junction,through Bronwydd Arms and Llwyfan Cerrig,to as far as Danycoed en route,close to Cynwyl Elfed.
The Gwili Railway aims to restore a further 3+1⁄2 miles (6 km) of track, again following the course of the River Gwili, past Cynwyl Elfed and further up the valley to Llanpumpsaint.
The current station is fully staffed, with the ticket office on platform 1 staffed all week. A self-service ticket machine is provided for use and for collecting pre-paid tickets. A buffet and newsagents shop ("The Coracle Buffet") is available here, along with toilets and a waiting room on platform 1; platform 2 has a shelter and bench seating. Train running information is provided by digital CIS displays, timetable posters and automated announcements. Step-free access is available to both platforms, though platform 2 requires the use of a foot crossing - wheelchair users are advised not to use this without assistance. [6] Station signs are bilingual, in English and Welsh.
In June 2019, a plaque was unveiled at the station to commemorate the eight Great Western Railway workers from Carmarthen who lost their lives in the First World War. This was based on the work of a local train driver who researched the names. The unveiling ceremony was attended by over 100 people including local dignitaries and representatives from the Armed Forces. [7]
To the east, Transport for Wales operate regular services to Swansea, Cardiff Central, Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly. Great Western Railway currently operate six services per day (Mon-Sat, 4 on Sundays) between this station and London Paddington. The majority of local train services west of Carmarthen are timed to connect with the London Paddington services at either Swansea or Cardiff Central. [8]
To the west, Transport for Wales operate services to Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven and Fishguard Harbour. Carmarthen is the eastern terminus for a few of these services. [9]
In December 2022, the ORR approved Grand Union to commence a new service from Paddington to Carmarthen in partnership with Spanish rail operator Renfe, for which a fleet of new bi-mode trains will be used. The new service is scheduled to commence in December 2024. [10] The service will call at Bristol Parkway, Severn Tunnel Junction, Newport, Cardiff Central, Gowerton and Llanelli en-route to Carmarthen. [11]
The British Transport Police maintain a presence at Carmarthen.
Some of Transport for Wales' boat trains to and from Fishguard Harbour serve the station. These connect with the Stena Line ferry to/from Rosslare Europort in Ireland with a daily morning and evening service in both directions. This route has been in existence since 1906.
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Ferryside | Transport for Wales West Wales line | train reverses | ||
Whitland | ||||
Llanelli | Great Western Railway London - Carmarthen | Terminus | ||
Pembrey and Burry Port | Great Western Railway London - Pembroke | train reverses | ||
Whitland | ||||
Future services | ||||
Llanelli | Grand Union London - Carmarthen | Terminus |
The Gwili Railway is a Welsh heritage railway, that operates a preserved standard gauge railway line from the site of Abergwili Junction in southwest Wales along a four-and-a-half-mile (7.2 km) section of the former Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line. The original railway closed in 1965, with the track being lifted in 1975.
The West Wales lines are a group of railway lines from Swansea through Carmarthenshire to Pembrokeshire, West Wales. The main part runs from Swansea to Carmarthen and Whitland, where it becomes three branches to Fishguard, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock.
Whitland railway station serves the town of Whitland in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is located on the West Wales Line from Swansea. To the west of the station, a branch line diverges towards Pembroke; the main line continues to Milford Haven and Fishguard Harbour. The Whitland and Cardigan Railway diverged from the Fishguard/Milford Haven line 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Whitland.
Llandeilo railway station serves the town of Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. The station is 30+3⁄4 miles (49 km) north east of Swansea on the Heart of Wales Line.
The Teifi Valley Railway is a 2 ft narrow gauge railway occupying a section of the former standard gauge Great Western Railway line between Llandysul and Newcastle Emlyn. After the closure of the former line by British Rail in 1973, a preservation group built and periodically extended a narrow-gauge railway along the route, westwards from Henllan, eventually operating a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long line as a tourist attraction.
The Carmarthen–Aberystwyth line was originally a standard-gauge branch line of the Great Western Railway (GWR) in Wales, connecting Carmarthen and Aberystwyth.
The Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway was a 7 ft 1⁄4 in broad gauge railway line in Wales that was intended to connect Carmarthen on the South Wales Railway with Cardigan. In fact, it was unable to raise the necessary capital and was loss-making from the time of opening the first short section of its line in 1860, and it was in receivership for much of its life. It eventually reached Llandysul in 1864 but was not extended further during its independent existence.
Llanpumsaint is a village and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales. In the 2001 UK Census, Llanpumsaint community had a population of 595. It is not to be confused with Pumsaint, a small village some distance away on the River Cothi. The population increased in 2011 to 734, and thus the percentage of Welsh speakers declined.
The Manchester and Milford Railway was a Welsh railway company, intended to connect Manchester and the industrial areas of North West England with a deep-water port on Milford Haven, giving an alternative to the Port of Liverpool.
Bronwydd Arms railway station, originally a stop on the now closed Carmarthen to Aberystwyth Line, is the headquarters of the preserved Gwili Railway.
The Lampeter, Aberayron and New Quay Light Railway was an independent branch line railway in south west Wales. It connected Aberayron to the former Manchester and Milford Railway line at Lampeter; New Quay was never reached.
Cynwyl Elfed is a village and community in the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales. The community includes the villages of Cynwyl Elfed, Blaenycoed and Cwmduad. It is situated about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Carmarthen and had a population of 953 in 2001, increasing to 1,044 at the 2011 Census.
Abergwili railway station served the village of Abergwili in Wales. It was the first station after Gwili Junction, the point where the line through it divided from the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth Line.
The River Gwili in Carmarthenshire, is a tributary of the River Towy, the longest river entirely in Wales. Its headwater is found east of Llanllawddog, in the Brechfa Forest. It runs west, through Llanpumsaint, to its confluence with the River Duad, just south of Cynwyl Elfed village. Here its course turns to the southeast, running through Bronwydd before joining the River Towy at Abergwili.
Pentrecourt Platform was a minor railway station near the village of Pentrecwrt, West Wales, on the originally broad gauge Teifi Valley line of the Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway. The halt opened in 1912 to serve the old Alltycefn Woollen Mill and the village, lying some 5 miles and 21 chains from the junction at Pencader and situated between the villages of Llandysul and Henllan.
Henllan was a railway station near the village of Henllan, Ceredigion, West Wales, serving the hamlet and the rural locale.
Llanpumpsaint was a railway station near the village of Llanpumpsaint, West Wales, serving the hamlet and the rural locale.
Conwil was a railway station near the village of Cynwyl Elfed in Carmarthenshire, Wales, serving the hamlet and the rural locale. It was once a thriving railway station, transporting both passenger traffic and locally produced goods, including wool, livestock, milk and timber.
The Great Western Railway was a railway company that was dominant in West Wales, in the United Kingdom.
Abergwili Junction railway station in the town of Abergwili, Carmarthenshire, Wales, is the southern terminus of the Gwili Railway.