Teifi Valley Railway

The volunteer base isn’t the largest down west I’m afraid. We (Gwili) just about manage to attract from the main centres of population along the M4 Corridor but Henllan is a further 15 miles or so along the windy road.

Without steam the operation is far less attractive as a railway and maybe the power that be feel that it’s better to promote the ancillary attractions such as the miniature railway, and its difficult to argue with that in my view. The word “railway” does generate a certain expectation among the public, often based upon other lines visited.

Regards

Matt

 

For a time it WAS a significant attraction and had the enthusiastic support of the Tourist Board/Visit Wales, Ceredigion County Council, etc. Alan George breaks the ribbon on the new platform at Henllan, July 18th 2009. The first train out of the new platform arrives at Riverside station. Local bigwigs disembark to look at the river. This verdant setting was demolished during the period of the catastrophe. No trains have visited Riverside since June 2014.

 

I think The TVR still has potential, and given some manpower, could regain its former status. It is situated in a very beautiful, though underrated part of Wales.
As a holiday destination it appears lacking in "things to do" attractions. The attractions there are, Carmarthen Castle, Gwili Rly, Llandysul Paddlers etc. are rather more spread out than is the case in the north. Look at Aberaeron-its lovely but the English don't go there, or New Port-an absolute gem(with excellent fish and chips) but no-one has heard of it. Tourist spending seems quite low in Carmarthenshire, it could be significantly more if the area were marketed more. It is a lovely place for a quiet family holiday, and I look forward to visiting a re-invigorated TVR next time. I wish them well.

 

I agree. Carmarthenshire CC is trying to improve tourism but at the moment there is the Gower to one side with plenty of tourists and Pembroke on the other with plenty of tourists and Carmarthen in the middle with plenty of ... sheep. It is very much an agricultural area that many tourists seem to just pass through without stopping.

Back to the Teifi, Has anyone found out anything more about the new company started last year called the Busy Bee Cafe Ltd. based at Henllan? Is it actually supporting the railway?

 

Could you get there by rail?


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Err ... no!

 

Er... why?

Not the most helpful reply. I know it’ll never happen, the practical and financial constraints are obvious enough but what are the technical reasons not to, has the trackbed been breached anywhere?


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Well, you can't get there by rail as they shut the line in 1973!!

 

Only that Nikki Cox is the only named director, and is also a director with the 2 Harbuds of the TVR. All other TVR directors are listed as having resigned.

 

You can get to Carmarthen by rail but the line to Henllan was part of the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth railway line (Closed 1973). Part of the “main line” is occupied by the Gwili with 4 miles operational.

The line to Henllan branched west at Pencader Junction and Henllan is part-way to Newcastle Emlyn.

Most of the route is still intact apart from the first mile out of Caramarthen and at Llanybyder where the station is now under the bypass.


Regards

Matt

 

Recognize that's an issue, which is a shame, especially when it seems Teifi are doing well to alienate many of their existing volunteers. Still, I standby that it'd be a huge shame to lose it, there's not much railway related in South or West Wales, and very very little narrow gauge!

 

This is exactly what attracts a certain type of holidaymaker (like me for example), but we don't tend to be the spendy type. A quiet afternoon bicycling up the valley doesn't give many opportunities to support the local economy, sadly. A lot of Carmarthenshire's good stuff they can't really charge for, and a slogan like "Come to Carmarthenshire because no-one else does" isn't going to bring the £££

 

There is a historic reason why Carmarthenshire has been underdeveloped in the tourism sense, you have to go back to 1994 when the old County of Dyfed (which included Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion) existed. The tourism in the old unitary authority was focused in Pembrokeshire. Now Carmarthenshire is a county in its own right more attractions are being developed -Botanical gardens, Aberglasney House, Ffos Las racecourse and the Gwili among others. There is also the prospect of the Towy Valley Cycle path along the old Llandeilo line trackbed. Hence the future is looking brighter.

Regards

Matt

 

A pedant writes: you have the terminology the wrong way round. Dyfed was not a unitary authority; the current Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority.

 

This is a bit nearer to the answer I was looking for. I’ll have to look up where Llanybyder is but from what you say, not impossible if someone turned up waving a large cheque book (just likely to be a way of turning a large fortune into a large loss, obviously). Gwili own a bit more trackbed, don’t they? How far from the limit of what they own, to the Teifi?


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1. Re: Busy Bee Cafe - Cox and MacFadzean still the 2 directors and shareholders. Accounting date changed so next due Accounts will be dated 31st December 2017 and will be for 18 months. So it won't be until later this year that we find out how they did since summer 2016.
2. Carmarthen to Aberystwyth Railway was the main line, Pencader to Newcastle Emlyn the branch. Henllan is on the branch. In 1981 the TVR Company bought the whole 9 mile branch but various bits have been sold so only 5 or 6 miles remain Company property. About 2 miles were developed, from Henllan to the river Teifi. During the catastrophe period, much of the track was ripped up. So far about 600 yards has been relaid. The rest of the trackbed has been left to nature since October 2014.
3. Traws Link Cymru is a group lobbying to restore the main line C to A as a modern diesel line and has succeeded in persuading the Assembly to finance first a scoping study in 2013 and last year, a full feasibility study by Mott Macdonald. This study was completed in the spring but has not yet been published, Transport for Wales having been preoccupied with the new rail franchise and battling with Westminster about electrifications. Hence nobody knows whether the Gwili would be wiped out or incorporated in some way if the scheme goes ahead.

 

I’m not loosing too much sleep on the last point...

Regards

Matt

 

Gwili own Abergwili Jtn to Llanpumsaint (8 miles)

Beyond this the trackbed of the main line is largely intact, through Atwallis tunnel to Pencader where there has been some small scale development at the station site. Then it’s fairly clear to Llanybydder which has been totally obliterated at the station site. From Llanybydder to Pentrecwrt was in TVR ownership but was sold a few years ago I believe.

Regards

Matt

 

Sorry Matt - TVR only ever owned from Pencader to Emlyn and Llanybydder is on the main line south of Pencader.
The scoping study investigated the ownership of the main line and found that most of the bridges were still owned by the British Rail Residuary Body and were receiving annual inspections ... hardly any of the trackbed had been bought by locals.

 

First Minister’s view

http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/arti...and expensive’&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2018