Cambrian Line

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Cambrian Line
An Arriva Wales train pulls into Dovey Junction Station - geograph.org.uk - 1087576.jpg
An Arriva Trains Wales Class 158 pulls into Dovey Junction station, where the line splits to Pwllheli and Aberystwyth
Overview
Other name(s)Cambrian Main Line (partially)
Cambrian Coast Line (partially)
Cambrian Railway
Native nameLlinell y Cambrian
Prif Linell y Cambrian
Llinell Arfordir y Cambrian
Rheilffordd y Cambrian
StatusOperational
Owner Network Rail
Locale England:
Shropshire
Wales:
Powys
Ceredigion
Gwynedd
Termini
Stations34
Service
Type Heavy rail
System National Rail
Services ShrewsburyPwllheli
ShrewsburyAberystwyth
Operator(s) Transport for Wales
Rolling stock Class 158 Express Sprinter
History
Opened1855–1869
Technical
Line length ShrewsburyAberystwyth
80 mi 59 ch (129.93 km)
ShrewsburyPwllheli
117 mi 69 ch (189.68 km)
Number of tracks1 (with passing loops)
Character Rural
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification None
Signalling ETCS Level 2
Route map
Cambrian line Map.png
(Click to expand)
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Shrewsbury
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Shrewsbury Abbey
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Bow Street (first station)
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Bow Street
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Tywyn
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over Afon Glaslyn
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Pwllheli

The Cambrian Line (Welsh : Llinell y Cambrian), sometimes split into the Cambrian Main Line (Welsh : Prif Linell y Cambrian) and Cambrian Coast Line (Welsh : Llinell Arfordir y Cambrian) for its branches, is a railway line that runs from Shrewsbury, England, westwards to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli in Wales. Passenger train services are operated by Transport for Wales Rail between the western terminals of Pwllheli, in Gwynedd, and Aberystwyth, in Ceredigion, and the eastern terminal at Shrewsbury, Shropshire, as part of the Wales & Borders franchise. The railway line is widely regarded as scenic, as it passes through the Cambrian Mountains in central Wales, and along the coast of Cardigan Bay in Snowdonia National Park.

Contents

The line includes long sections of rural single track and is designated as a community rail partnership. [1]

Route

From Shrewsbury, the line heads west through northern Powys, serving the towns of Welshpool and Newtown, then continues further west calling at Caersws and then Machynlleth until reaching Dovey Junction. At Dovey Junction, a short distance west of Machynlleth, the line splits into two branches: the southern branch goes to Aberystwyth, and the longer, northern branch continues to Pwllheli as the Cambrian Coast Line, crossing the River Mawddach by Barmouth Bridge. The section of the Cambrian Line between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth may be called the Cambrian Main Line. [2]

History

The line is made up of:

These lines were constructed between 1855 and 1869. The section west of Buttington Junction became part of the Cambrian Railways in 1864.

The Cambrian Railways became part of the Great Western Railway under the Grouping Act of 1921. On nationalisation these lines were operated first by the Western Region of British Railways and later by the London Midland Region. In a later reorganisation, passenger services were operated by the Regional Railways Central sector. Following privatisation in the mid 1990s, passenger services were first operated by Central Trains, then by Wales & Borders from 2001, Arriva Trains Wales from 2003, KeolisAmey Wales from 2018 and publicly-owned Transport for Wales Rail from 2021.

Closed stations

Although the line survived the Beeching Axe, many stations were closed from the 1960s onwards. The stations closed include the following:

Shrewsbury to Dovey Junction:

Dovey Junction to Aberystwyth:

Dovey Junction to Pwllheli:

Politics

The Cambrian line was not directly threatened with closure in the 1963 Beeching Report. Later threats to the coastal part of the route, from Dovey Junction to Pwllheli, were subsequently withdrawn. Its tourism role is as a scenic route, as well as linking many coastal resorts and connecting to seven narrow-gauge tourist lines (these are the Talyllyn Railway, Welshpool and Llanfair Railway, Ffestiniog Railway, Welsh Highland Railway and the Vale of Rheidol Railway). [3]

Performance

Bow Street station in 1962 Bow Street railway station 1868608 2d708665.jpg
Bow Street station in 1962

With long sections of single line and limited passing points, minor disruptions on the Cambrian Line quickly lead to compound delays and partial cancellations. This, combined with short turnaround times at each end of the route, led to severe unpunctuality during much of the first decade of the 21st century. The extension of the service to Birmingham International in late 2008 [4] has helped address this by eliminating the tight turnarounds at the heavily congested Birmingham New Street station. Maintenance changes and additional padding in public timetables has also helped improve performance figures overall.

In Arriva Trains Wales' performance statistics the Cambrian Line was routinely the worst-performing service group between 2003 and 2008. Since early 2009, recorded timekeeping has improved – a considerable achievement, considering that the route has been the testing ground for brand new signalling technology previously unused on the British railway network.

Cambrian Line performance comparison [5]
Service GroupPunctuality for the 12 months to
13 October 20076 December 2014
Cambrian88.2%94.3%
Marches 93.7%92.7%
Wales–England95.8%97.7%
South, West, Central Wales94.0%96.0%
Valley Lines 95.1%95.5%
North Wales Inter Urban 97.7%96.5%
North Wales Rural92.3%93.4%

Line upgrade

In October 2006, it was announced that Network Rail would pilot the European Rail Traffic Management System on the Cambrian Line. The ERTMS allows headways between trains using the same track to be reduced without affecting safety, allowing a more frequent service. Should the pilot scheme be successful, the system is expected to be rolled out on some other rural routes within the UK. [6]

The upgrade was expected to cost £59 million and was to be completed by December 2008, [7] but the system was only released, for limited testing between Pwllheli and Harlech, in February 2010. Three signallers from the Machynlleth signalling centre and seven drivers were trained to operate the new equipment. [8] Ansaldo STS were the principal contractors for the upgrade, with Thales as sub-contractors for the Telecomms and Eldin as installation subcontractors for all elements of UK infrastructure. Systra was in charge of testing and commissioning the ETCS and interlocking components of the signalling system.

A single-track stretch on the Cambrian Coast Line Cambrian Coast Railway - geograph.org.uk - 214756.jpg
A single-track stretch on the Cambrian Coast Line
An example of a metric speed limit sign, west of Machynlleth, installed as part of the ERTMS upgrade. It shows a differential limit with different speeds for passenger and freight trains. Differential metric railway speed limit, Machynlleth 2018.jpg
An example of a metric speed limit sign, west of Machynlleth, installed as part of the ERTMS upgrade. It shows a differential limit with different speeds for passenger and freight trains.

Ansaldo installed ERTMS In Cab ETCS (European Train Control System) level 2, class 1, specification V2.3.0 in 2011 (as noted below). As the name suggests, the driver receives the instructions for movement on the cab display. This level does not require conventional fixed signals – therefore all the existing signals and RETB boards have been removed. [9] Additionally, the line side speed signs were made redundant – drivers are given the appropriate maximum speed on the cab display (in kilometres per hour). [10]

The Cambrian ERTMS – Pwllheli to Harlech rehearsal started on 13 February 2010 and completed successfully on 18 February 2010. The driver familiarisation and practical handling stage of the rehearsal provided an excellent opportunity to monitor the use of GSM-R voice in operation on this route. The first train departed Pwllheli at 08:53 in ERTMS Level 2 Operation with GSM-R voice being used as the only means of communication between the driver and the signaller.

Network Rail spokeswoman Mavis Choong was unable to give a figure for how much the scheme has cost, but said £400m was being spent installing it across the UK network. She claimed the 14-month delay was caused by the system "being new".[ citation needed ]

In 2007, a new flat crossing, named "Cae Pawb Crossing", was installed at the intersection of the Cambrian Line and the Welsh Highland Railway.

In October 2010, following completion of testing, the ERTMS system finally entered service between Pwllheli and Harlech and the previous Radio Electronic Token Block system was removed. On 18 March 2011, the final commissioning phase for the ERTMS system across the whole Cambrian route started, including layout alterations at Welshpool and Talerddig which would facilitate a desired increase in service frequency. At 07:20 on 26 March 2011, the New ERTMS signalling system was placed into operational use across the Cambrian Line controlled from Machynlleth, some 40 minutes ahead of the planned schedule. Two days of driver familiarisation then followed; passenger operation started on 28 March 2011. An initial assessment by the operating company was not favourable: problems with the design and installation of the in-cab displays were identified and infrastructure failures included the control system becoming "confused" by common train movements, such as changes of speed or shunting into the depot. [11]

Llanbadarn level-crossing incident

Shortly before 22:00 on Sunday 19 June 2011, a passenger train from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth ran onto the level crossing at Llanbadarn while the barriers at the crossing were raised, and came to a stop with the front of the train about 31 metres (102 ft) beyond the crossing. There were no road vehicles or pedestrians on the crossing at the time. [12] The immediate cause of the incident was that the train driver did not notice that the indicator close to the crossing was flashing red until it was too late for him to stop the train before it reached the crossing. Factors behind this included the driver's "workload" (his need to observe a screen in the cab at the same time as he should also be observing a lineside indicator), the design of the equipment associated with the operation of the level crossing, and the re-setting of the signalling system on board the train before it could depart from Aberystwyth. An underlying cause of the incident was that the signalling system now in use on the lines from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli did not interface with the automatic level crossings on these routes. [12]

The RAIB made six recommendations, three directed to Network Rail, two to Arriva Trains Wales and one to the Rail Safety and Standards Board. These cover the development of engineering solutions to mitigate the risk of trains passing over automatic crossings which have not operated correctly; changes to the operating equipment of Llanbadarn crossing; the processes used by railway operators to request permission to deviate from published standards; the operational requirements of drivers as trains depart from Aberystwyth; and the way in which drivers interact with the information screens of the cab signalling used on the Cambrian lines. The failure at ERTMS System-User Interface investigated by the RAIB indicates that the ERTMS Implementation did not satisfy the non-functional attribute of safety integrity of the real time dependable distributed computing concepts. [12]

2018 track upgrades

In 2018, Network Rail began upgrading 3.7 miles (6.0 km) of track at a cost of £7.5 million. [13] As well as improving reliability by replacing track, Network Rail and Powys County Council installed over a mile of new road and two road over rail bridges at Ystrad Fawr and Rallt. This has closed eight level crossings and improved safety for local residents. [14]

ETCS upgrade announcement 2020

The UK Government Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced on 21 August 2020 that £3m in funding had been authorised to advance plans to upgrade signalling on the 241 km (150 mi) Cambrian line from Shrewsbury Sutton Bridge Junction to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. "The planned state-of-the-art digital signalling system will modernise the network, improving reliability of services, and supporting the introduction of a new fleet being rolled out across the network in December 2022", the minister said. [15]

Services

Freshly painted and without branding, Transport for Wales class 158 at Tywyn station, making the 11:30 service to Pwllheli on 21 February 2019 TfW class 158 Tywyn.jpg
Freshly painted and without branding, Transport for Wales class 158 at Tywyn station, making the 11:30 service to Pwllheli on 21 February 2019

As of May 2023, the Aberystwyth line has a near-hourly service and twelve direct trains between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury daily, [16] with several extended to or from Birmingham International. Trains to Pwllheli typically operate once every two hours, either as separate connecting services running to/from Machynlleth, or as portions attached to Aberystwyth services with trains dividing or joining at Machynlleth as necessary.

Trains now run more frequently than before: resignalling of the railway and other infrastructure changes have allowed more trains to run to and from Aberystwyth since 2015. Connections are better too, as some trains run through from Birmingham New Street to Birmingham International. [17] From the 1990s until 2015, a service had typically been provided between Birmingham and Aberystwyth every two hours, with a reduced service on Sundays. From December 2009 to December 2022, connections were available through calls at Smethwick Galton Bridge. [18]

Freight services over the line were absent for many years, after regular oil trains were halted in 1993. However, trials in 2003 and again in 2022 have led to the introduction of a regularly weekly train transporting timber from Aberystwyth to the Kronospan woodchip factory in Chirk. [19] Trains are operated by Colas Rail but are hauled by Class 97 locomotives belonging to Network Rail, [20] due to the need for trains on the route to be compatible with the ETCS signalling used on the line (97/37 combinations with the 97 in front of the 37 can also be used). The 2003 trial, by contrast, had used a pair of British Rail MPV units sandwiched around a rake of seven open-sided timber wagons.

Steam workings

In 2007, West Coast Railways took over operation of the Cambrian Coast Express which ran over the Cambrian Coast Line from Machynlleth to Porthmadog and Pwllheli, the train was also renamed to The Cambrian. The service would run from the last week of July until the end of August between 2007 and 2010.

Before the 2011 season, WCR issued a statement stating that due to Network Rail's implementation of the new European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) signalling on the Cambrian Coast, which necessitated new in-cab signalling equipment, the seasonal steam services had to cease running because no system was yet available for fitment in steam locomotives. No steam loco owners were planning to upgrade their locos to work under the system in the then-near future, owing to costs and the amount of equipment that was required. Locos that have visited the route over the years include: 7802 Bradley Manor, 7819 Hinton Manor, 44871, 46443, 75069 & 76079.

Following an absence of 14 years it was announced in February 2024, that as part of trials for the fitment of the new ETCS signalling system to steam locomotives, 60163 Tornado is to run overnight testing trains between Shrewsbury and Newtown. The trains will be run during night-time to avoid affecting passenger services. [21] These trials are also being undertook as part of Network Rail's East Coast Digital Programme & Pathfinder Project.

Coast Line infrastructure problems

Major structural problems with Barmouth Bridge resulted in the withdrawal of services between 1980 and 1986 [22] and the line was threatened with closure before ultimately being repaired and reopened.

Work began in March 2013 to replace the wooden Pont Briwet viaduct over the Afon Dwyryd near Llandecwyn. The new bridge now carries two lanes of road traffic and the single track railway, and opened in 2015. [23] It was hoped that, apart from a four-week period where power cables had to be moved, the old viaduct could remain open throughout the works. [24] However, the bridge was found to have been affected by the piling work for the new bridge, and was declared structurally unsafe and closed in December 2013. This necessitated a diversion via Maentwrog for road users and caused rail services to terminate at Harlech. A new temporary bridge was due to open in Spring 2014, but this plan had been scrapped in favour of running a convoy system on the A496 road that served as the diversionary route. [25] [26] [27] Work then focused on completing the main railway and road bridge by the end of the year.

Wave damage caused 3 January 2014 at Llanaber railway station Llanaber rail storm damage 2014.jpg
Wave damage caused 3 January 2014 at Llanaber railway station

In January 2014, the Coast line from Dovey Junction was closed to all trains after two sections of track between Tywyn and Barmouth were severely damaged by storm-force winds and tidal surges at the beginning of the month. Part of the sea wall protecting the trackbed at Llanaber near Barmouth was washed away, resulting in some 300 tons of ballast being lost and the formation covered in debris, whilst further south a section of embankment at Tonfanau was washed out. [28] Two of Arriva Trains Wales's Class 158 trains were trapped at Barmouth, and were removed by road. [29] Network Rail described the damage suffered by the line as "devastating", but stated the line to Barmouth could be reopened by 10 February 2014 (it was). Repairs north of Barmouth were completed, and the line reopened to Harlech on 1 May 2014, two weeks ahead of schedule. [30]

The full line reopened on 1 September 2014. [31]

See also

Notes and references

  1. "ACORP Summary map" (PDF). Association of Community Rail Partnerships. 28 July 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  2. "Delivering a better railway for a better Britain — Route Specifications 2017 Wales" (PDF). networkrail.co.uk. Network Rail. March 2017. p. 21.
  3. "Big Train meets Little Train" Great Little Trains of Wales website; Retrieved 2 August 2017,
  4. "Aber-London rail link may reopen". BBC News. 19 December 2008.
  5. "Arriva Trains Wales Performance Statistics. Source". Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  6. "ERTMS National implementation plan". Department for Transport. September 2007. Archived from the original (.pdf) on 6 March 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  7. Webster, Ben (17 October 2006). "Digital sensors will reduce gap between trains during rush hour". The Times. London. p. 23. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  8. "Pioneering rail technology gets tested in Wales". London: Network Rail. 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  9. ERTMS/ETCS Railsigns.uk; Retrieved 2 August 2017
  10. "GE/RT8000/AM – ERTMS Rule Book – ERTMS Amendments module" (PDF) (1). Rail Safety and Standards Board. October 2009: 4, 5. Retrieved 30 July 2012.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)[ permanent dead link ]
  11. Leppard, Peter (3 May 2011). Minimising the impact on the train service when resignalling an existing route with ERTMS, using its existing rolling stock (PDF). Copenhagen, Denmark: Global Transport Forum Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2011. Our very simple railway has been converted into something much more complex (and expensive!). So far the results suggest we should have kept what we previously had.... Nevertheless, we are determined to make Cambrian ERTMS a success!
  12. 1 2 3 "Incident at Llanbadarn Automatic Barrier Crossing (Locally Monitored), near Aberystwyth, 19 June 2011" (PDF) (1). Rail Accident Investigation Branch. June 2012: 5. Retrieved 12 December 2012.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. "£7.25m rail upgrade works begin on Cambrian line". BBC News. BBC. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  14. "Completion of £7.5m scheme creates a safer railway for mid Wales". Network Rail. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  15. "Multi-million boost from UK government for Welsh railways to level up infrastructure and improve journeys for passengers". GOV.UK. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  16. "Cambrian Coast Timetable • May 2023" (PDF). Transport For Wales.
  17. Arriva Trains Wales. "Proposed timetable 2008" (PDF). Severn Tunnel Action Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  18. "December Timetable Change – what's happening?". Railsmartr. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023.
  19. "Welsh timber is back on Welsh railways". Forest Machine Magazine. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  20. "Colas Rail UK Freight collaborate with Kronospan for Chirk service". Forest Machine Magazine. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  21. "Steam locomotive 60163 Tornado set for ETCS testing in Wales". Rail Advent.
  22. "Engineering Timelines - Barmouth Viaduct". www.engineering-timelines.com.
  23. "Penrhyndeudraeth-Harlech bridge replacement under way". BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  24. "Penrhyndeudraeth-Harlech bridge closes for cable work". BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  25. "Pont Briwet bridge closed over safety as £20m crossing built". BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  26. Milner, Chris (1 January 2014). "Bridge fiasco could close Porthmadog line until 2015". The Railway Magazine . Mortons Media Group. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  27. "Pont Briwet temporary bridge plan scrapped". BBC News North West Wales. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  28. "Repairs start on Cambrian Coast railway line after storm damage". Daily Post . 10 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  29. "Road trip for storm-hit Barmouth marooned trains". BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  30. "Cambrian Coast rail flood repairs at Barmouth and Pwllheli to take months". BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  31. RAIL 757, p. 13.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dovey Junction railway station</span> Railway station in Powys, Wales

Dovey Junction is a railway station on the Cambrian Line in Wales. It is the junction where the line splits into the line to Aberystwyth and the Cambrian Coast Line to Pwllheli. Passenger services are provided by Transport for Wales. There is a single island platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barmouth Bridge</span> Railway bridge across the Mawddach estuary

Barmouth Bridge, or Barmouth Viaduct is a Grade II* listed single-track wooden railway viaduct across the estuary of the River Mawddach near Barmouth, Wales. It is 900 yards (820 m) long and carries the Cambrian Line. It is the longest timber viaduct in Wales and one of the oldest in regular use in Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrewsbury railway station</span> Grade II listed railway station in Shropshire, England

Shrewsbury railway station serves the town of Shrewsbury, in Shropshire, England. Built in 1848, it was designated a grade II listed building in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pwllheli railway station</span> Railway station in Gwynedd, Wales

Pwllheli railway station serves the small coastal town of Pwllheli, on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales. It is the northern terminus of the Cambrian Coast Railway.

<i>Cambrian Coast Express</i>

The Cambrian Coast Express is an old named passenger train of the Great Western Railway (GWR), and later British Rail, running from London Paddington via Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli over the Cambrian Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newtown railway station (Wales)</span> Railway station in Powys, Wales

Newtown railway station is a railway station serving Newtown, Powys, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welshpool railway station</span> Railway station in Powys, Wales

Welshpool railway station on the Cambrian Line in Powys, mid-Wales, serves the town of Welshpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Machynlleth railway station</span> Railway station in Powys, Wales

Machynlleth railway station is on the Cambrian Line in mid-Wales, serving the town of Machynlleth. It was built by the Newtown and Machynlleth Railway (N&MR) and subsequently passed into the ownership of the Cambrian Railways, the Great Western Railway, Western Region of British Railways and London Midland Region of British Railways. It is notable in that there are 22 miles (35 km) separating this station and Caersws, the longest distance between two intermediate stations in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tygwyn railway station</span> Railway station in Gwynedd, Wales

Tygwyn railway station is located at a level crossing on the A496 between Harlech and Talsarnau near the estuary of the Afon Dwyryd in Gwynedd, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlech railway station</span> Railway station in Gwynedd, Wales

Harlech railway station is located at a level crossing on the A496 in the centre of the town of Harlech in Gwynedd, North Wales. The waiting shelters were installed to cater for the high numbers of schoolchildren commuting to and from the adjacent secondary school, Ysgol Ardudwy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porthmadog railway station</span> Railway station in Gwynedd, Wales

Porthmadog railway station serves the town of Porthmadog on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales. The station is on the Cambrian Coast Railway with passenger services to Pwllheli, Harlech, Barmouth, Machynlleth, Shrewsbury and Birmingham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Criccieth railway station</span> Railway station in Gwynedd, Wales

Criccieth railway station serves the seaside town of Criccieth on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penychain railway station</span> Railway station in Gwynedd, Wales

Penychain railway station, commonly known by its former name, Butlins Penychain railway station, is located by an over bridge at Pen-ychain on the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales. This railway station is an unstaffed halt on the Cambrian Coast Railway with passenger services to Pwllheli, Porthmadog, Harlech, Barmouth, Machynlleth and Shrewsbury. For many years the station served the large Butlins Holiday Camp at Penychain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llanaber railway station</span> Railway station in Gwynedd, Wales

Llanaber railway station serves the village of Llanaber near Barmouth in Gwynedd, Wales. The station is an unstaffed halt on the Cambrian Coast Railway with passenger services to Harlech, Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Barmouth, Machynlleth and Shrewsbury. Most trains call only on request.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barmouth railway station</span> Railway station in Gwynedd, Wales

Barmouth railway station serves the seaside town of Barmouth in Gwynedd, Wales. The station is on the Cambrian Coast Railway with passenger services to Harlech, Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Tywyn, Aberdovey, Machynlleth and Shrewsbury. Between Morfa Mawddach and Barmouth the railway crosses the Afon Mawddach on the Barmouth Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morfa Mawddach railway station</span> Railway station in Gwynedd, Wales

Morfa Mawddach railway station is an unstaffed station located on the outskirts of the village of Arthog in Gwynedd, Wales, on the Cambrian Coast line between Machynlleth and Pwllheli. Built by the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway in 1865, it was formerly the junction station for the Ruabon to Barmouth Line. Since the closure of the Ruabon to Barmouth line in 1965, it remains open, as a minor station on the Cambrian Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tywyn railway station</span> Railway station in Gwynedd, Wales

Tywyn railway station serves the town of Tywyn in Gwynedd, Wales. The station is on the Cambrian Coast Line, with passenger services to Barmouth, Harlech, Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Aberdovey, Machynlleth and Shrewsbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdovey railway station</span> Railway station serving the village of Aberdyfi in Gwynedd, Wales

Aberdovey railway station serves the seaside resort of Aberdyfi in Gwynedd, Wales. The station is on the Cambrian Coast Railway with passenger services every two hours calling at all stations between Machynlleth and Pwllheli, including Tywyn, Barmouth, Harlech and Porthmadog. Passengers can connect at Machynlleth for trains to Aberystwyth or Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International.

The Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway was a standard gauge railway company, running a line along the west coast of Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newtown and Machynlleth Railway</span>

The Newtown and Machynlleth Railway was a railway company in Wales. It built a line from a junction with the Llanidloes and Newtown Railway near Caersws to the market town of Machynlleth; the line opened in 1862. Newtown had become the hub of railway lines in the district. Machynlleth was an important town, and extension from there to Aberystwyth and to the coast northward was in the minds of the promoters.