Railwatch 069 - October 1996

Mid Wales

By Chris Magner

Aberystwyth Work is continuing on the station restoration. The main platform canopy is being restored as well. The Machynlleth-Aberystwyth line is blighted by four "temporary" speed restrictions. Ballast to locations on the Cambrian is being delivered by road transport, although there are plans to start delivering it by rail again.

Going loco RDS is mounting a campaign to restore locomotives to the Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth- Pwllheli route. Railtrack has banned class 31 and 37 1ocomotives on the system which has meant the only engines allowed are the class 20s. Tours and excursions no longer travel the line. Much money was spent in 1986 to restore loco hauling to the Cambrian Coast line but the only loco-hauled train which traverses the route is the weed-killing train. There are only a handful of class 20s and much effort went into providing a pair of DRS locos for the royal train on May 31. Friends of the Earth/Transport 2000 still campaign for the return of the Starlow-Aberystwyth oil train. A lifting of the loco ban would help this to return.

Newtown The rail ticket agency operated by members of the Cambrian Rail Users Group continues to do well. The Newtown-Welshpool section has several temporary speed restrictions which hamper the 158 express trains.

Caersws The station gardens are cared for by the Gaersws station group, members of the Cambrian Rail Users Group.

Preservation progress The Llangollen Railway has recently extended its line from Llangollen to Carrog. During Llangollen Eisteddfod Week in early July park-and-ride facilities were provided at Carrog to avoid congestion in Llangollen, and diesel railcar specials took patrons into Llangollen. Local residents in the Carrog area have a special railcard which enables them to use the early morning railcar service to Llangollen.

Depressing advice The National Eisteddfod of Wales was being held at Llandeilo on the Heart of Wales line in August. South Wales and West Railway produced a folder which encourages people to go by trains to Swansea and then go by bus. A special leaflet said: "Limited capacity will also be available on the Heart of Wales line but travel will be by seat reservation only and passengers not holding seat reservations may not be able to travel.

Heart of Wales A few people used the first Heart of Wales Rambler service in spite of the fact that it was not advertised. Numbers went up substantially after the adverts appeared. It should be pointed out that there was no connection this year from Wolverhampton and Telford, because of a misunderstanding between South Wales and West and Central Trains. Normally the Wolverhampton to Cambrian Coast train connects with the Rambler in Shrewsbury. The lack of connection has been a blow to the Rambler. Railtrack also stopped the Heart of Wales Rambler starting from Crewe this year. If the 1996 season goes well and funding can be obtained for the train in 1997, then it will start from Crewe with connections from Liverpool and Manchester. This year Shropshire County Council has subsidised the "Rambler" train by £3,000. With continued county council cutbacks it may not be possible for the county to continue.

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