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Major engineering work will be taking place during August on the Arriva Trains Wales network at the locations detailed in the downloadble PDF file which will result in changes to the published timetable.
Please note the following affected route:
Sunday 1st August:
Trains between Swansea and Shrewsbury via the Heart of Wales Line will be replaced with road transport between Llandrindod Wells and Llandovery serving all stations via Llanwrtyd Wells and in both directions.
Sunday 22nd August:
Trains between Swansea and Shrewsbury via the Heart of Wales Line will be replaced with
road transport between Knighton and Llanwrtyd Wells serving all stations via Llandrindod Wells
in both directions.
For futher details of how this may affect your journey on other parts of the network please see detailed posters at local stations or call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50. Alternatively use the Journey Planner.
Posted 16 July 2010.
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Click here to download the engineering works leaflet for August. |
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Major engineering work will be taking place during July on the Arriva Trains Wales network at the locations detailed in the downloadble PDF file which will result in changes to the published timetable.
Please note the following affected route:
Sunday 1st August:
Trains between Swansea and Shrewsbury via the Heart of Wales Line will be replaced with road transport between Llandrindod Wells and Llandovery serving all stations via Llanwrtyd Wells and in both directions.
For futher details of how this may affect your journey on other parts of the network please see detailed posters at local stations or call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50. Alternatively use the Journey Planner.
Posted 4 July 2010.
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Click here to download the engineering works leaflet for July. |
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Major engineering work will be taking place during June on the Arriva Trains Wales network at the locations detailed in the downloadble PDF file which will result in changes to the published timetable.
Please note the following affected route:
Sunday 20th June: Trains between Swansea and Shrewsbury via the Heart of Wales Line will be replaced with road transport between Llandeilo and Llanwrtyd Wells serving all stations via Llandovery in both directions.
For futher details of how this may affect your journey on other parts of the network please see detailed posters at local stations or call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50. Alternatively use the Journey Planner.
Posted 21 May 2010.
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Click here to download the engineering works leaflet for June. |
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Click here to download the paper discussed at the meeting. |
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Major engineering work will be taking place during May on the Arriva Trains Wales network at the locations detailed in the downloadble PDF file which will result in changes to the published timetable.
Please note the following affected routes:
Sunday 2nd May: Trains between Swansea and Llanelli will be
replaced with road transport serving Gowerton in both
directions.
Sunday 9th May: Trains between Swansea and Shrewsbury via the Heart of Wales Line will be replaced with road transport between Llandovery and Pantyffynnon serving all stations via Llandeilo in both directions.
Saturday 22nd May from 1930 and all day Sunday 23rd May: Trains between West Wales / Cardiff Central and Crewe / Manchester Piccadilly will be replaced with road transport between Hereford and Shrewsbury serving all stations via Ludlow in both directions.
For futher details of how this may affect your journey on other parts of the network please see detailed posters at local stations or call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50. Alternatively use the Journey Planner.
Posted 20 Apr 2010.
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Click here to download the engineering works leaflet for May. |
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Please note that the dates of the two steam hauled trips over the Line have been revised and are now as follows:
Saturday 3rd July - 'The Central Wales Explorer' - Train hauled by two LMS Stanier 'Black 5' 4-6-0 locomotives Nos. 44871 and 45407 and travelling from Crewe to Newport via Shrewsbury, Llandrindod Wells, Llandovery, Pantyffynnon and Port Talbot Parkway. (This train was due to run originally on 26th June).
Saturday 10th July - 'The Heart of Wales' - Train hauled by the above two locomotives and travelling from Newport to Manchester Victoria via Port Talbot Parkway, Pantyffynnon, Llandovery, Llandrindod Wells, Shrewsbury and Crewe. (This train was due to run originally on 3rd July).
Posted 23 Mar 2010.
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'WelTAG’ is the name of the process used to establish whether the costs of providing an extra service on the Heart of Wales Line are justified in terms of benefits generated.
Produced by transport consultants Jacobs the Final Draft Report was released in February and showed that the proposal has significant social benefits, at minimal environmental costs/impact, and meets a long established
aspiration for train services at more accessible times for those living in
Wales part-way along the route.
‘Weltag’ is the mnemonic for the systematic analysis of the costs and benefits arising from any transport project funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.
Posted 16 Mar 2010.
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Click here to download the pdf version of the report. |
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We are pleased to announce that work has been completed on the Llandrindod Wells Signal Box Museum
situated on the Station Platform at Llandrindod Wells Station.
Easter Opening Times:
Good Friday 2nd April
Easter Saturday 3rd April
Easter Monday 5th April
Opening Times: 28 May to 30 Aug – 2010
Fridays & Saturdays only - 11.00am – 3.00pm
Bank Holiday Mondays – 11.00am – 3.00pm
Victorian Festival Week – 20th – 29th August
Admission Free
Enquiries to : 01597 823116
Posted 16 Mar 2010.
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The completed Signal Box at Llandrindod Wells
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Why not use the Heart of Wales Line to visit Swansea and see the magnificent Tornado - first steam locomotive built in the United Kingdom since Evening Star in 1960!
60163 Tornado is working into Swansea on a St.David`s Day special from London, arriving in Swansea at 1410 and departing at 1733 - ideal for someone arriving in Swansea on the Heart of Wales train at 1301.
Tornado was built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust using original plans from an LNER Peppercorn Class A1 class but modified to meet modern safety and certification standards.
Posted 23 Feb 2010.
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The Tornado - the first steam locomotive built in the United Kingdom since 1960. |
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A scenic Swansea community railway station has been given a new look for 2010.
A group of young people and volunteers has now introduced raised flower beds on the platforms of historic Pontarddulais Railway Station thanks to £5k funding from Tidy Towns- a Welsh Assembly Government initiative to help clean up communities.
The idea was originally put forward by the local branch of Merched y Wawr and the spruce-up was officially unveiled in January.
Seven young people from Pontarddulais Comprehensive School worked on the project with teacher Sue Davies Lowe, youth worker Angela Payne and experts from the Council's parks department who gave the young people advice on the planting process. Swansea Council, Arriva Trains Wales and the Pontarddulais Partnership were also involved.
Viv Makin, of the Pontarddulais Partnership, is delighted with the outcome commenting "The scenery on the Heart of Wales line is stunning and we're proud that Pontarddulais is part of the famous route."
Cllr Alan Robinson, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Community Regeneration, said: "It's fabulous that a group of Pontarddulais young people have shown so much pride in their wonderful hometown.
"There's something magical about rural train trips and this completed scheme will improve what's already a terrific travelling experience."
Posted 15 Feb 2010.
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The revamped Pontarddulais Railway Station |
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Llandrindod Wells - your gateway and hub for touring the Cambrian
Mountains and the Marches!
Heart of Wales Bikes, located next to the station, are the only Dawes bike retailer in mid Wales and specialise in touring machines. Rent a Dawes Touring Bike for your holiday. Just turn up, clip your own rack-pack or panniers in place, and head for the hills.
The Radnor Ring, Sustrans route 25, is a delightful 86 mile scenic ride, linking the small towns of Rhayader, Llandrindod Wells, Presteigne and Knighton. For more information download the advert on the right.
And finally, don't forget that there is plenty of opportunity to refuel before your adventure at one of the town’s ten café’s and tea rooms!
Posted 13 Jan 2010.
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Sustainable Transport and Tourism for Wales
Speaking at a conference to launch the report of a Study Group into Sustainable Transport and Tourism in Wales, Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones made it clear that the Assembly Government is 100% behind efforts to make tourism in Wales sustainable, endorsing recommendations of a study group, made up of representatives from the public transport and tourism sectors in Wales.
Short term objectives set out in the report are to:
- Provide better information to visitors on what sustainable transport options are currently available
- Encourage more local services linked to visitor attractions
- Offer incentives to visitors to use public transport
- Simplify ticketing arrangements including integrated ticketing for different modes of transport
- Provide travel planning for key visitor attractions
Later in the conference, the Community Rail Officers of Wales launched their own contribution to the sustainability campaign – a full colour A2 poster promoting ‘Scenic Wales by Train and Traws Cambria’. The poster folds down to convenient pocket size and shows the key scenic rail routes of Wales and the Border counties. We are keen to promote tourism in Wales by public transport’, explained Community Rail Officer David Edwards, of the Heart of Wales Line Forum. The leaflet is available from the Scenic Wales website.
Posted 28 Nov 2009.
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Click here to download the report on Sustainable Transport and Tourism for Wales . |
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David Edwards launches the new Scenic Wales by Train and Traws Cambria Leaflet.
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The Heart of Wales Line Railcard costs just £5 and offers at least one third off all individual Standard Class rail fares on the line.
Visit our Tickets page where you can download a leaflet containing more information and an application form.
Posted 20 Oct 2009.
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Llandeilo Passing Loop Re-opened
The passing loop at Llandeilo station has been reinstated after many months of disuse. Network Rail had cannibalised one set of points to keep another part of the Welsh network in action. They have now been able to reinstate the equipment, allowing trains to pass each other at the station. This improves the operational flexibilty of the line.
The passing loops use an old design of equipment that is hard to repair, and of the five passing loops on the line two (Knighton and Llandovery) will still be out of use until a £5m replacement programme is completed in 2010. Still, the Llandeilo replacement is a good start!
Posted 1 Jun 2009.
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Llandeilo, where a passing loop has been recently reinstated.
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The ‘Calon Cymru’ Project
A small, informal group of professional planners and architects is developing a radical strategy to regenerate the landscape corridor through which the Heart of Wales railway line runs between Swansea / Llanelli and Shrewsbury. Members of the group are all experienced in dealing with the social and economic problems of deeply rural areas,
Their plan is to bolster the population by expanding existing settlements and by creating new villages at intervals along the line. All will be contained within a continuous linear forest of native broadleaf trees, interspersed with large glades for sustainable market gardens.
The new homes, built to zero-carbon standards, are to be developed through Community Land Trusts in order to control land prices and achieve genuine affordability. The forest and horticultural lands will be used for food, fuel and the production of building materials. This will facilitate local self sufficiency, provide a wide range of training opportunities and create a stable employment base for local people.
The increased and balanced population, and the economic activity in the communities linked by the line, will form a backbone that generates increased demand for the railway service and tourism in central Wales. It will at the same time recognise that the quality of the existing landscape and its wildlife are its greatest assets, which must not be compromised.
Posted 7 May 2009.
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Forum Briefs Transport Consortium About Need to Improve Service
Wales is currently drawing up long term plans for the improvement of its transport system. We have four Regional Transport Consortia, and the one that is taking the lead for the Heart of Wales Line is TraCC, which covers Mid Wales.
We have recently attended TraCC Stakeholder Consultation meetings to ensure that they are aware of our aspirations for an improved service on the line, and have just submitted our input for the Draft Regional Transport Plan. When finalised and approved, this will form the basis of Regional Transport Plans for the next 10 years.
In the meantime, we’re still pressing for an increase in the service on our line in the short term, and await feedback on a request to the Assembly Government for an improved weekend service using rolling stock that provides weekday peak hour strengthening on the Cardiff Valleys lines.
Posted 6 Apr 2009.
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Pressing for an Improved Service
A Heart of Wales Line Forum meeting was held on the 9th Mar 2009 to discuss how the service on the line could be improved.
The Forum believes that the Heart of Wales Line is underperforming. We live in an age when the concensus is to move more freight and passengers from road to rail. We have an ageing population which nevertheless wants to be mobile. It makes no sense that the key public transport ‘spine’ for the very Heart of mid Wales is kept open, but then only used for the current minimal service.
Posted 20 Mar 2009.
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Click here to download the paper discussed at the meeting. |
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