Western
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Aberdare railway station |
Abercynon to Aberdare
Name of Line: The Merthyr Line (Aberdare Branch), (part of the Valley Lines)
Length of Line:
Stations: Abercynon, Penrhiwceiber, Mountain Ash, Fernhill, Cwmbach, Aberdare
Train operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Description:
History:
Journey review - coming soon
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Barry Island railway station |
Barry to Barry Island
Name of Line: The Vale of Glamorgan Line (part of)
Length of Line: 3/4 mile
Stations: Barry, Barry Island
Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Trains run from: Aberdae, Pontypridd, Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff
Description: The shortest branch line in Wales runs south east from Barry station.
History
Websites: Barry Tourist Railway Barry Island Scrapyard
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Cheltenham train ready to depart from Maesteg railway station 22/8/09 |
Bridgend to Maesteg
Name of Line: The Maesteg Line
Stations: Bridgend, Wildmill, Sarn, Tondu, Garth, Maesteg Ewenny Road, Maesteg
Length of Line: 8 1/4 miles
Train Operating company: Arriva Trains Wales
Description: This branch line runs north from Bridgend to Maesteg almost ten miles away.
History: Originally opened in the 1860's, the line was closed in 1970. After a long campaign the line was reopened to passngers in 1992.
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Severn Beach railway station |
Bristol to Severn Beach
Name of Line: The Severn Beach Line
length of Line: 13 1/2 miles
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: Bristol Stapleton Road, Montpellier, Redland, Clifton Down, Sea Mills, Shirehampton, Avonmouth, St Andrews Road, Severn Beach
Description:
History:
Journey review - coming soon
Websites: The Severn Beach Line Severnside Community Rail Partnership Photo link
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Ebbw Vale Parkway Railway Station looking south |
Cardiff Central to Ebbw Vale Town
Name of Line: The Ebbw Valley Line
Length of Line: 28 miles
Stations: Cardiff Central, Rogerstone, Risca & Pontymister, Cross Keys, Newbridge, Llanhilleth, Ebbw Vale Parkway, Ebbw Vale Town
Train operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Description: The newest passenger line in Wales, opened in February 2008 on a former freight line from the South Wales mainline to the edge of Ebbw Vale.
History: The line had originally opened in 1850, but passenger services ceased in April 1962. In May 2015 the line was extended north to reach Ebbw Vale Town.
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Treherbert railway station looking north |
Cardiff Central to Treherbert
Name of Line: The Rhondda Line (part of the Valley Lines)
Length of Line:
Stations: Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Llandaf, Radyr, Taffs Well, Trefforest Estate, Trefforest, Pontypridd, Trehafod, Porth, Dinas Rhondda, Tonypandy, Llwynypia, Ystrad Rhondda, Ton Pentre, Treorchy, Ynyswen, Treherbert
Train operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Description:
History:
Journey review - coming soon
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Cardiff Bay train entering the branch |
Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay
Name of Line: The Butetown Branch Line The Cardiff Bay Line
Length of Line: 1 mile
Stations: Cardiff Queen Street, Cardiff Bay
Frequency of Trains: Every 15 minutes
Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Description: This short branch line connects the redeveloped docks area of Cardiff Bay with the town centre.
History: Originally opened by the Taff Vale railway in 1840, the terminus station was first called "Cardiff Docks", then "Bute Road" in 1924 (under the GWR) and fimally "Cardiff Bay" in 1994.
Trivia: The line uses a Class 121 "Bubble Car" DMU.
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Coryton railway station 29/7/10 |
Cardiff Queen Street to Coryton
Name of Line: The Coryton Line
Length of Line: 4 3/4 miles
Stations: Cardiff Queen Street, Heath Low Level, Ty Glas, Birchgrove, Rhiwbina, Whitchurch, Coryton
Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Trains start at: Cardiff Queen Street, Radyr
Description
History
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Rhymney railway station looking south |
Cardiff Queen Street to Rhymney
Name of Line: The Ryhmney Line (part of the Valleys Lines)
Length of Line:
Stations: Cardiff Queen Street, Heath High Level, Llanishen, Lisvane & Thornhill, Caerphilly, Aber, Lanbradach, Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, Pengam, Gilfach Fargoed, Bargoed, Brithdir, Tir-phil, Pontlottyn, Rhymney
Frequency of Trains: Every hour
Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Description: This branch line connects Rhymney with Penart south of Cardiff.
History:
Journey review - coming soon
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19.01 train for Melksham at Chippenham Railway station 9/9/11 |
Chippenham to Trowbridge
Name of Line: The Trans Wilts Line
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Traction used:
Stations:Chippenham Melksham Trowbridge
Description: This single track line goes south west from Chippenham to Trowbridge on the Bristol to London Paddington mainline. It has just two trains in each direction per day at present.
History:
Websites: Save the train
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Milford Haven railway station 27/7/10 |
Clarbeston Road to Milford Haven
Name of Line: The West Wales Line (Milford Haven Branch)
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Station: Clarbeston Road, Haverfordwest, Johnston, Milford Haven
Description: The line leaves the main line at Clarbeston Road and goes south westwards through the prembrokeshire countryside
History
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Swansea railway station |
Craven Arms to Llanelli/Swansea
Name of Line: The Heart of Wales Line
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Traction used:
Stations: Craven Arms, Broome, Hopton Heath, Bucknell, Knighton, Knucklas, Llangynllo, Llanbister Road, Dolau, Pen-y-Bont, Llandrindod, Builth Road, Cilmeri, Garth, Llangammarch, Llanwrtyd, Sugar Loaf, Cynghordy, Llandovery, Llanwrda, Llangadog, Llandeilo, Ffairfach, Llandybie, Ammanford, Pantyffynnon, Pontarddulais, Llangennech, Bynea, Llanelli, Gowertown, Swansea
Description: The line starts off at Shrewsbury and passes through the Welsh Marches and into mid-Wales. It then moves south westwards through the mountains and emerges at Llanelli, where it reverses and goes east to Swansea and ultimately to Cardiff.
History:
Websites: Heart of Wales Line
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Barnstaple railway station 15/4/10 |
Exeter to Barnstaple
Name of Line: The Tarka Line
Length of Line: 40 Miles
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: Exeter St Davids, Newton St Cyres, Crediton, Copplestone, Morchard Road, Lapford, Eggesford, King's Nympton, Portsmouth Arms, Umberleigh, Chapelton, Barnstaple
Description - A long branch line of almost forty miles which goes northwards from Exeter to the North Devon town of Barnstaple, running along the valley of the rivers Creedy, Yeo and Taw for much of its journey.
History
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Exmouth Railway Station |
Exeter to Exmouth
Name of Line: The Avocet Line
Length of Line: 11 miles
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: Exeter Central, St James Park, Polsoe Bridge, Digby & Sowton, Topsham, Exton, Lympstone Commando, Lympstone Village, Exmouth
Description: This pleasant branch line goes south from Exeter running next to the estuary of the river Exe to terminate at the seadie resort of Exmouth.
History
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Exeter St Davids railway station - Augsut 2007 |
Exeter to Okehampton
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: St James Park, Exeter Central, Exeter St Davids, Newton St Cyres, Crediton, Yeoford, Samford Courtenay, Okehampton, Meldon Quarry
Description: The line follows the Tarka Line as far as Coleford Junction where it branches off on the usually freight only line to Meldon Quarry. It passes through Sampford Courteney station as it climbs up onto Dartmoor and then stops at Okehampton. This has been a sundays only service in the summer sponsored by Devon County Council. The Dartmoor Railway has run steam trains from Okehampton to Meldon Quarry until 2008.
History
Journey review
Website Links: Friends of Dartmoor Railway
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Penarth railway station |
Grangetown to Penarth
Name of Line: The Vale of Glamorgan Line (Penarth Branch)
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Stations: Grangetown, Dingle Road, Penarth
Description: A short commuter branch which goes to teh commuter coastal town of Penarth south west of Cardiff
History
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Gunnislake Railway Station - August 2007 |
Keyham to Gunnislake
Name of Line: The Tamar Valley Line
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: Keyham, St Budeaux Victoria Road, Bere Ferrers, Bere Alston, Calstock, Gunnislake
Trains start from: Plymouth
Description: This line moves north from Plymouth and follows the picturesque Tamar valley up into the hils of Dartmoor, crossing from Devon into Cornwall.
History
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Liskeard Railway Station - Looe train |
Liskeard to Looe
Name of Line: The Looe Valley Line
Stations: Liskeard, Coombe, St.Keyne, Causeland, Sandplace, Looe
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
History: This line started as a mineral railway from Moorswater, just north of Liskeard and ran under the Penzance main line to Looe. It was joined to the main line at Liskeard in 1909.
Description: This beautiful Cornish branch line moves south from Liskeard and runs parallel to the river Looe all the way to the port of Looe.
Trivia: The train leaving Liskeard goes north then east before going under the main line to Coombe Halt where the train reverses and heads south to Looe. The GWR had plans to build a direct line from St Germans to Looe in the 1930's but they did not come to fruition.
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Maidstone railway station looking west - Marlow train on right |
Maidenhead to Marlow
Name of Line: The Marlow Branch
Length of Line: 7 miles
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: Maidenhead, Furze Platt, Cookham, Bourne End, Marlow
Description: This branch line goes north from Maidenhead to Bourne End, where it then goes along the side of the river Thames to Marlow.
History: Originally the line went from Maidenhead through to High Wycombe, with the branch to Marlow starting at Bourne End. The line from Bourne End to High Wycombe closed in the 1960's, so now the train reverses at Bourne End.
Website link: Marlow to Maidenhead Passengers' Association
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Paignton Station |
Newton Abbot to Paignton
Name of Line: The Riviera Line
Length of Line: 8 miles
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: Newton Abbot, Torre, Torquay, Paignton
History: The Dartmouth and Torquay was formed in the 1850's and in August 1859 the first passenger trains began to travel through Torquay to Paignton. The line from Paignton via Goodrington Sands to Kinsgswear was closed by British Rail in 1972 but was reopened as the Dart Valley Light Railway a few months later.
Description: A short but interesting branch line which goes downhill for most of the way from Newton Abbot to the Torbay area, passing along the coast in places.
Links: The Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway
Trivia: Over 16,000 passengers arrived at Torquay/Paignton stations on Saturday 10th August 1957 - the equivalent of over 25 trains!
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Newquay Railway Station - August 2007 |
Par to Newquay
Name of Line: The Atlantic Coast Line
Length of Line: 20 miles
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: Par, Luxulyan, Bugle, Roche, St Columb Road, Quintrel Downs, Newquay
History: In June 1876 a line was opened from Fowey via Par to Newquay by the Cornish Minerals Railway. It was taken over on 1st July 1896 by the Great Western Railway.
Description: This Cornish branch line goes west from Par on the Cornish mainline through China Clay country to the Atlantic coast at Newquay.
Trivia: Due to several speed restrictions this line is the slowest journey by railway in Britain, taking almost an hour to travel the 20 miles of track!
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Merthyr Tydfil railway station |
Pontypridd to Merthyr Tydfil
Name of Line: The Merthyr Line (Merthyr Branch), (part of the Valley Lines)
Length of Line:
Stations: Pontypridd, Abercynon, Quaker's Yard, Merthyr Vale, Troed-y-rhiw, Pentre-bach, Merthyr Tydfil
Train operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Description:
History:
Journey review - coming soon
Trivia: Merthyr Vale station was featured in the 1971 film 10 Rillington Place
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Windsor & Eton Central Railway Station |
Slough to Windsor & Eton Central
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: Slough, Windsor & Eton Central
Description: This short branch line of just a couple of miles moves south from Slough over a few fields before it reaches the historic town of Windsor.
History
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St Ives train arriving at St Erth railway station |
St Erth to St Ives
Name of Line: The St Ives Bay Line
Length: 4 1/4 miles long
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: St Erth, Lelant Saltings, Lelant, Carbis Bay, St Ives
History: The line was first opened in June 1877 by the West Cornish Railway, carrying both goods and passengers as soon as it opened. It was the last line in Cornwall to be built as a broad gauge railway and helped turn St Ives from a small fishing village into a popular seaside resort. In the 1960's it was due to be closed under the Beeching cuts, but was given a reprieve by the then transport minister, Barbara Castle. It is now the busiest branch line in Cornwall.
Description: Sometimes called "the branch line with the most stunning views in the whole of England", this branch line is a must for anyone who enjoys travelling on branch lines. It starts at St Erth on the Cornish mainline and travels alongside the estuary of the River Hayle before reaching the Atlantic Ocean, passing several breathtaking beaches as it clings to the cliffside before arriving at St Ives.
Trivia: In 1978 Lelant Saltings station became the first station to have "Park and Ride" facilities to ease parking congestion in St Ives.
Links: Rail Ale trail St Ives 1 St Ives 2
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Falmouth Docks railway station |
Truro to Falmouth Docks
Name of Line: The Maritime Line
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: Truro, Perranwell, Penryn, Penmere, Falmouth Town, Falmouth Docks
Description: This Cornish branch line moves south from the cathedral city of Truro, passing over several viaducts and through some tunnels before it emerges at the port of Falmouth on the coast.
History: Falmouth was originally the mail port for the West Indies, but lost trade to Southampton, which was nearer to London and other parts of the country. So a railway was proposed to make the port more important again. However in 1846 when the navvies first began work there were riots against the railway! It was eventually finished in 1863. The eight viaducts along the line were originally built with timber. These were not changed to metal until 1934.
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West Ealing Railway Station - Greenford train leaving |
West Ealing to Greenford
Name of Line: The Greenford Branch
Length of Line: 3 miles
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: West Ealing, Drayton Green, Castle Bar Park, South Greenford, Greenford
Description: This is the first branch line to leave the Western Mainline out of Paddington, passing through buiit up areas to join the old GWR mainline and Central Line at Greenford.
History
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Henley train at Twyford railway station |
Twyford to Henley-on-Thames
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railway
Stations: Twyford, Wargrave, Shiplake, Henley-on-Thames
Description - This branch line travels north from the Western main line at Twyford and reaches the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames.
History
Website Link: Photo link
Henley-on-Thames station Twyford station sign
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Pembroke Dock railway station |
Whitland to Pembroke Dock
Name of Line: West Wales Line (Pembroke Dock Branch)
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales
Stations: Whitland, Narberth, Kilgetty, Saundersfoot, Tenby, Penally, Manorbier, Lamphey, Pembroke, Pembroke Dock
Description: A picturesque line in South West Wales, which twists and turns on its route south westwards to the Pembrokeshire Coast.
History