Traws Link Cymru - threat to the Gwili?

Lightweight trains have been around since about 1958, they are called dmus.

 

@Martin Adalar if your view is the Gwili should make way then that is of course one you are entitled to take. However your first post on this subject was to describe the Gwili as a “little hobby railway”, if you want to have a sensible debate then phrases like this are not going to aid your cause.

I note this and your post regarding lightweight trains. Can I suggest you take some time to read the recent report (there is a link a few pages back) as the report also suggests which trains would be suitable from the line from a timekeeping point of view. It rules out the lighter 158’s on these grounds.

Regards

Matt

 

Unfortunately I have to travel by TfW (formerly ATW) to and from Cardiff every day for work (when I'm not driving elsewhere) so I am a regular train traveller. For this journey the train wins hands down time wise however I value my time and don't want to spend it sat needlessly on a train when I could get somewhere much quicker by car. Therefore, meetings in places places like Carmarthen, Aberystwyth, Lampeter, Llandrindod and Newtown will always necessitate a car journey for me. I do travel by train to Shrewsbury, London and Bristol amongst others for work so the car doesn't always win.

 

I was thinking if the Swanage could run a steam service alongside a timetabled diesel service to Wareham on the mainline why can't the Gwili?
But looking at the report things are different.
The line is a lot longer and looks like they are proposing an hourly train service (to replace the existing slow bus?) this should also attract people travelling through and reduce road usage.
If they use the newer class 185 the acceleration is better which not only reduces times but means 2 sets and staff rather than 3 class 158 sets reducing costs.
Therefore it will be harder to fit slower steam trains without the newer conrol systems on the same line.
Hopefully a suitable new track route for the Gwili railway and funds to relocate can be found.

 

While I appreciate the sentiment in your last sentence personally speaking I would question how many of our volunteer staff would actually want to start again at a new site. The Gwili has bags of charm exactly as it is. It would be difficult to replicate that elsewhere. If we do have to close expect what we have to be dispersed with most of what we have hopefully staying in Wales but very little left in terms of railway heritage west of Cardiff.

Regards

Matt

 

I wouldn't worry about the Gwili for the foreseeable future, tbh. There is no chance of this line reopening any time soon, as far as I can see. There's no real political will for it and certainly no money.

 

So far the Welsh Government have not made any statement on it's report.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45957283
But will somehow be able to find money if it agrees with the benefits in the report.
The miniature, but extensive Mitzens railway in Woking relocated succesfully with help from Mclarens who took over it's old site. If the Gwili has to relocate, will be a challenge but not inpossible.

 

Methinks the gwili is a tad bigger than the Working minature railway!

 

This is where we have been going wrong all these years. Should have stuck to 7 1/4 inch....

 

Think how much cheaper getting to Llanpumsaint would be!

 

Whole railway could've been reopened by now! Then you could nick the world's smallest public railway title!

 

The problem with this thread is that I just can’t work out whether to take it seriously or just make a joke of it....

 

every post on Nat Pres is serious. It's just that some are seriously funny and some are seriously bad.

 

I suspect the woeful business case made serious discussion somewhat moot.

 

Sorry if I underestimated the impact of a relocation.
I read the report again and hard to understand it will be difficult to lay a new track alongside the existing Gwili track?

 

The report also mentions 3 potential closed branch lines that could be reused. But can only find one, already being used by the Teifi valley narrow gauge railway.

 

Yes, the make up of the line (north of Bronwydd) is a curved route though rock cuttings and the side of the valley on one side and the river on the other. Nigh on impossible to dual.

Regards

Matt

 

Aberaeron branch
Newcastle Emlyn branch
Carmarthen to Llandeilo line

This is where the report is lacking as no mention of Teifi Valley or the fact that Carmarthen to Llandeilo is earmarked for a cycle path.

Regards

Matt