Once the world centre for anthracite and tinplate production the Gwendraeth Valley and surrounding area has now been transformed from its industrial scars, through imaginative and ground breaking projects like the Millennium Coastal Park and the National Botanic Gardens with its claim to have the largest single span glass dome in the UK.
Started in 1865, the Burry Port and Gwendreath Valley Railway was built along the route of the oldest canal in Wales that served the numerous mines and pits in the area. The original canal and tramroad network dates back to the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. Originally a freight railway it was upgraded for passenger use by the famous Colonel Holman F Stevens prior to its takeover by the Great Western Railway at the goruping in 1923. Passenger services were withdrawn by BR in 1953.
The original canal bridges (which now span the railway) and much of the canal itself survive to this day and have always restricted the height of the stock that can use the line. In recent years BR modified small diesel locomotives with cut down cabs to operate the route. Today the railway survives largely intact with the last freight train having run in the early ninties.
The Gwendraeth Rail Project is an ambitious proposal to restore this 13 mile (22km) long historical line and develop an unique volunteer run tourism and community railway linking the major visitor attractions and communities of the area in an integrated and sustainable manner. With excellent road and rail links and located only minutes from the M4 motorway, the line will also eventually link with the main coastal line which links West Wales with Swansea and beyond.
The project has the support of local authorities in the area as well as community regeneration bodies and cycling charities together with numerous other bodies and associations. Although the railway has been closed since 1996 most of the track on the 13 mile section linking Kidwelly to Cwm Mawr is till in situ although badly overgrown and all the major structures on the line are still in place. Furthermore the complete track-bed is in the hands of only two organizations, these being Network Rail and Carmarthenshire County Council.
The Gwendraeth Railway Society (GRS) was set up in 2002 to support the reopening of the main line of the B.P.& G.V.R. as a volunteer operated passenger railway. The society plans to reinstate stations at Pontyberem, Pont-Henri, Pontyates, Pont-newydd, Trimsaran Road and Pinged. Additionally there will be a relocated stations at Cwm-mawr and Pembrey and a new station at Burry Port Harbour. The latter station will be on a new site due to road layout changes made in Burry Port since the closure of the original B.P.& G.V.R. station in 1953.
Under the Society ’ s current proposals the railway would be reopened in stages as a steam worked line. The aim is to run a Summer and weekend service for tourists and the local population between the villages of the Gwendraeth Valley and the major attractions of the Carmarthenshire coast including The Pembrey Country Park, Burry Port Harbour and the Millennium Coastal Park near Llanelli. The society expects the re-opened railway will complement other leisure facilities in the Gwendraeth Valley including the Pontyates Mining Trail and other local footpaths and cycle tracks.
After careful consideration the G.R.S. has decided to establish its initial operating base at Pontyates station, which has good connetions with the bus services to Llanelli and Carmarthen. Phase 1 of the railway will be a two mile line from Pontyates station to a temporary halt just north of the Pont-newydd river bridge. Phase 2 of the railway will see the operating line extended further southwards to Trimsaran Road. As funds permit the railway will be further extended until the whole of the thirteen mile line from Burry Port to Cwm-mawr is re-opened.
Aside from rebuilding the line the Gwendraeth Railway Society’s other main aim is to preserve the historic items associated with the railway. This includes important structures such as the canal over-bridges. These stone bridges straddle the route between Burry Port and Pontyberem. The society also plans to restore locomotives and rolling stock associated with the railway. So far society members have purchased a steam engine and diesel engine both of which use to run on the line.
The society also plans to build replicas of some of the original Colonel Stephen’s designed station buildings. The first of the replica buildings is planned for Pontyates Station. This replacement building will by constructed as part of the Phase 1 operational railway.
If you would like to join us in this exciting project please contact us by letter, e-mail or phone. Details for contact are located on the Contact Us page.