View source for West Wales lines

{{Short description|Railway lines west of Swansea, Wales}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name = West Wales lines
| image = Viaduct at Tenby - geograph.org.uk - 479143.jpg
| caption     = A [[British Rail Class 153|Class 153 unit]] in [[Heart of Wales line]] livery crosses the viaduct near [[Tenby railway station]] c.2007.
| type = Heavy Rail
| system = [[National Rail]]
| locale = [[Wales]]<br>[[Swansea]]<br>[[Carmarthenshire]]<br>[[Pembrokeshire]]
| start =
| end =
| stations =
| open = 1868
| owner = [[Network Rail]]
| operator =
| character =
| stock =
| linelength =
| tracks = [[Double track]] Swansea to Clarbeston Road (remainder single line)
| gauge = {{RailGauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| old_gauge =
| speed =
| map_state                       = open
| map                             = [[File:West Wales lines Map.png|340px|Map of the West Wales lines.]]
}}
{{West Wales Line RDT}}
The '''West Wales lines''' ({{lang-cy|Llinellau Gorllewin Cymru}}) are a group of railway lines from [[Swansea]] through [[Carmarthenshire]] to [[Pembrokeshire]], [[West Wales]]. The main part runs from Swansea to [[Carmarthen]] and [[Whitland]], where it becomes three branches to [[Fishguard]], [[Milford Haven]] and [[Pembroke Dock]].

Before the rail cuts of the 1960s, there were routes to Cardigan, Newcastle Emlyn, Llandysul, and via Lampeter, cross-country from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth.

== History ==

The railway to west Wales was first projected in 1844, and the proposal was for a line to run from the [[Great Western Railway]] near [[Gloucester]] to Fishguard, with a branch from Whitland to Pembroke.  The railway was called the South Wales Railway, and although it was in theory independent of the GWR, in practice it was very closely linked.  This was shown by the fact that [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] was the engineer, and the line was laid to the {{RailGauge|7ft}} [[broad gauge]].

Construction began in 1847, but the company ran into financial difficulties. In addition, the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine of Ireland]] reduced the prospective revenue from Anglo-Irish traffic.  As a result, instead of completing the line to the proposed port at Fishguard, the Haverfordwest branch was extended to [[Neyland]] where the harbour would cost less.

The line from Swansea opened as far as Carmarthen on 11 October 1852, Haverfordwest on 2 January 1854, and to its terminus at Neyland on 15 April 1856.  At first, the railway was leased to the GWR, but in 1863 the two companies were amalgamated.

The original powers for the branch to Pembroke lapsed, and so in 1859 the [[Pembroke and Tenby Railway]] was authorised to build a {{RailGauge|4ft8.5in}}, [[standard gauge]] line from Pembroke Dock to Tenby. The line opened from Tenby to Pembroke on 30 July 1863 and to Pembroke Dock on 8 August 1864. The extension from Tenby to the GWR line at Whitland opened on 4 September 1866.  There were two adjoining stations at Whitland with no physical connection between the two lines because they operated on [[Break-of-gauge|different gauges]].<ref name="ReferenceA">"[[Railway Magazine]]", October 1959</ref>

The line was engineered by [[James Szlumper|Sir James Szlumper]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.lycos.co.uk/Graham_Davies/Railways/PandTR.html|title=Build a Free Website with Web Hosting - Tripod|work=lycos.co.uk|access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> It had its own police force until 1897, due to the high-security of the Naval Dockyard at Pembroke Dock, and the munitions transported.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.btp.police.uk/History%20Society/Publications/History%20Society/Constituent%20Force/Railway%20Police/Printable/Pembroke%20and%20Tenby%20Railway%20Police%20brief%20history.htm|title= British Transport Police|website=www.btp.police.uk|access-date=23 June 2019}}</ref>

The Pembroke & Tenby Company obtained powers in 1866 to extend their standard-gauge line from Whitland to Carmarthen. This would have enabled the Pembroke & Tenby to link up with the standard-gauge network through the [[Llanelly Railway]], the [[Vale of Towy Railway]] and the [[Central Wales line]]. Through a series of inter-company working agreements, this would have had the effect of giving the [[London & North Western Railway]] unrestricted access to west Wales.  Within the Act for the extension to Carmarthen was a Schedule which allowed either party (the Pembroke & Tenby or the Great Western) to request the Great Western for running powers to the Pembroke company.  In doing this the cost of adding a rail to [[Dual gauge|mix the gauge]] and installing the necessary junctions at Whitland and Carmarthen was £20,000 to be paid to the Great Western within 18 months of the request.  The request was made by the Pembroke company and consequently the Great Western [[Gauge conversion|converted]] the up line to standard gauge leaving the down line purely as broad.  This was not what the Pembroke company was wanting but had to live with it.  The Great Western maintained a crossing loop at St Clears for the broad gauge and this caused some hindrance to the Pembroke company.  The conversion is noted as the first pure broad to standard gauge for the Great Western.

The Pembroke & Tenby ran the first goods trains to Carmarthen on 1 June 1868, and passenger services in August 1869. The G.W.R began leasing the line on 1 July 1896 before finally amalgamated it a year later.<ref name="ReferenceA" />

In 1895, the Rosebush line was opened from {{stnlnk|Clynderwen}} to [[Clarbeston Road and Letterston Railway|Letterston]] along the old Maenclochog line, and construction started on extending it to Goodwick and the proposed new harbour at Fishguard.  A Bill was approved by Parliament for the railway to extend eastwards to Carmarthen, although this was stopped when the line was bought out by the [[Great Western Railway]] in 1898. In 1906, the railway was extended from Letterston to {{stnlnk|Fishguard & Goodwick}} followed in 1909 with {{stnlnk|Fishguard Harbour}}.

The Rosebush line was closed during [[World War I]] because its rails were shipped to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] in 1917 for use by the British Army.  In 1923 the line was relaid. However, passenger services ceased in 1937. The entire line was closed in 1949.

Passenger services stopped on the [[Whitland and Cardigan Railway|Whitland and Cardigan branch]] in 1962, followed by freight in 1963.  The line to {{rws|Neyland}} followed in 1964.  Pembrokeshire escaped lightly from the 1963 [[Beeching cuts]] as none of the remaining three branches – to Fishguard, Milford Haven, and Pembroke Dock via Tenby – were proposed for closure. The Pembroke Dock branch survived a later closure proposal in the late 1960s.

The first freight line to the Oil Refineries was built in 1960 when Esso opened their first refinery in Milford Haven.

===Current services===
[[File:Intercity train in Carmarthen - geograph.org.uk - 507966.jpg|thumb| left|[[First Great Western]] high speed service at {{rws|Carmarthen}}.]]
Until 2013, train services on the West Wales line were compromised, by the existence of a stretch of single track on the otherwise double-track main line. This {{convert|5|mi|0}} stretch of single track is between Cockett West Junction in the western suburbs of Swansea and Duffryn West Junction to the east of Llanelli. Within this section the River Loughor was crossed on a viaduct which required significant works to accommodate two tracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/wales/wales%20rus%20-%20summary%20&%20status%20of%20recommendations.pdf|title=Network Rail - Page not found|work=networkrail.co.uk|access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> Plans were advanced to replace the viaduct and restore double track, was completed in April 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Press-Releases/RAIL-PLANS-FOR-WEST-WALES-UNVEILED-1954/SearchCategoryID-7.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629074342/http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Press-Releases/RAIL-PLANS-FOR-WEST-WALES-UNVEILED-1954/SearchCategoryID-7.aspx |archive-date=2012-06-29 |url-status=dead |title=Rail Plans for West Wales Unveiled |date=2011-12-12 |publisher=Network Rail}}</ref>

One intermediate station, Gowerton, also lies on this single-track stretch, with just the former Down (westbound) platform in use for trains in either direction. The disused former Up platform (without track) is still in existence. Less than half of all trains passing through Gowerton can be scheduled to make stops owing to pathing limitations.  Additionally, this tight pathing compromised route performance which can amplify delays and hence impact connections into and out of the long-distance Intercity services between Swansea, Cardiff and London. This is important since there are many interchange passengers from the Pembroke Dock line (which is mainly served by trains terminating at Swansea) for Cardiff and English destinations.

The double tracking work between Cockett and Dyffryn was completed by July 2013 with a revamped Gowerton railway station having the disused platform brought back into use.  This resulted in Gowerton railway station having an additional 95 trains stopping there every week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Revamped-Gowerton-train-station-track-fine-future/story-19519832-detail/story.html#axzz2bc2C1Oqi|title=Revamped Gowerton train station is on track to fine future|work=South Wales Evening Post|access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> 
Additional problems are also found on the Single Lead Junction at Swansea Loop East junction (north of {{stnlnk|Swansea}} station), which causes conflict between trains from west of Swansea and the eastbound mainline High Speed Train services. There are two passenger companies operating; [[Transport for Wales Rail]] and [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]].

Great Western Railway introduced a new timetable in 2023, significantly increasing the service on the West Wales line. Their change added 65 trains every week on the line,<ref name=":0" /> extending services which previously started or terminated at Swansea to call at Llanelli, Pembrey & Burry Port and Carmarthen.

[[Transport for Wales]], [[Iarnród Éireann]] and [[Stena Line]] promotes [[SailRail]]<ref name="irishrail.ie">{{cite web |title=SailRail |url=http://www.irishrail.ie/index.jsp?p=118&n=249#SailRail |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208001129/http://www.irishrail.ie/index.jsp?p=118&n=249#SailRail |archive-date=2014-02-08 |access-date=16 April 2015 |publisher=Irishrail.ie}}</ref> using the [[Fishguard Harbour railway station|Fishguard Harbour]] to [[Rosslare Europort railway station|Rosslare Europort]] service which links with the [[Iarnród Éireann]] trains to [[Dublin Connolly railway station|Dublin Connolly]] on the [[Dublin–Rosslare railway line]].

== Route ==
The cities, towns and villages served by the route are listed below.  Towns in ''italics'' are served by InterCity express services.
{{col begin}}
{{col-3}}

=== Swansea to Whitland ===
* ''[[Swansea]]''
** connection with [[South Wales Main Line]]
* [[Gowerton]]
* ''[[Llanelli]]''
** connection with [[Heart of Wales line]] and [[Swansea District line]]
* ''[[Pembrey]] and [[Burry Port]]''
* [[Kidwelly]] ([[request stop]])
* [[Ferryside]] (request stop)
* ''[[Carmarthen]]''
* [[Whitland]] (junction for Pembroke Dock branch, served by Intercity services on Summer Saturdays)
{{col-3}}

=== Pembroke Dock branch ===
All stations on this line are served by at least one of the two Intercity services that run down this line on Summer Saturdays.

* [[Narberth, Pembrokeshire|Narberth]] (request stop)
* [[Kilgetty]] (request stop)
* [[Saundersfoot]] (request stop)
* [[Tenby railway station|Tenby]]
* [[Penally]] (request stop)
* [[Manorbier]]
* [[Lamphey]] (request stop)
* [[Pembroke, Pembrokeshire|Pembroke]]
* [[Pembroke Dock]]
{{col-3}}

=== Whitland to Clarbeston Road ===
* [[Clunderwen railway station|Clunderwen]] (request stop). Former junction for the [[North Pembrokeshire and Fishguard Railway]].
* [[Clarbeston Road railway station|Clarbeston Road]] (request stop, junction for Milford Haven and Fishguard branches)

=== Milford Haven branch ===
* [[Haverfordwest railway station|Haverfordwest]]
* [[Johnston railway station|Johnston]] (request stop)
* [[Milford Haven railway station|Milford Haven]]

=== Fishguard branch ===
* former connection with the [[North Pembrokeshire and Fishguard Railway]]. It closed in May 1949.
* [[Fishguard and Goodwick railway station|Fishguard and Goodwick]]
* [[Fishguard Harbour railway station|Fishguard Harbour]]
{{col end}}

==Services==
=== Great Western Railway ===
;Regular services 
[[File:Railway by the Sea - geograph.org.uk - 807112.jpg|thumb|Class 175 DMU en route for {{stnlnk|Carmarthen}}]]
In May 2023, Great Western Railway added extra services for the first time since their reduction in the late 1990s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-05-18 |title=65 extra trains every week in south Wales as GWR introduces new May timetable |url=https://news.gwr.com/news/65-extra-trains-every-week-in-south-wales-as-gwr-introduces-new-may-timetable |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=GWR News |language=en-GB}}</ref> They now operate the following services:
* Monday to Saturday, [[Intercity Express Train]] every two hours from {{stnlnk|Carmarthen}} to {{stnlnk|London Paddington}}, stopping at {{stnlnk|Pembrey & Burry Port}} and {{stnlnk|Llanelli}}
* Monday to Saturday, Intercity Express Train every two hours from {{stnlnk|London Paddington}} to {{stnlnk|Carmarthen}}, stopping at {{stnlnk|Llanelli}} and {{stnlnk|Pembrey & Burry Port}}
* Sundays, three morning/afternoon Intercity Express Train from {{stnlnk|London Paddington}} to {{stnlnk|Carmarthen}}, stopping at {{stnlnk|Llanelli}} and {{stnlnk|Pembrey & Burry Port}}
* Sundays, three afternoon/evening High Speed Trains from {{stnlnk|Carmarthen}} to {{stnlnk|London Paddington}}, stopping at {{stnlnk|Pembrey & Burry Port}} and {{stnlnk|Llanelli}}

;Summer period
* Additional daily services are provided between {{stnlnk|Pembroke Dock}} and {{stnlnk|London Paddington}}. Two services run from Pembroke Dock to Paddington, one runs from Paddington to Pembroke Dock with a fourth service which runs between Swansea and Pembroke Dock only. 

;Cancelled services
The following services previously operated by Great Western Railway (and/or one or both of its predecessors First Great Western, Great Western Trains, British Rail and Great Western Railway) no longer operate:
* Daily services from {{stnlnk|Milford Haven}} (and towards the latter years of operating, {{stnlnk|Haverfordwest}}) to {{stnlnk|London Paddington}}.<ref name=Parker>{{cite book|last=Parker|first= Richard|title=The Railways of Pembrokeshire|publisher=Noodle Books|year= 2008|isbn=978-1-906419-07-3}}</ref>
* Daily night time service from {{stnlnk|Fishguard Harbour}} to {{stnlnk|London Paddington}}, stopping only at {{stnlnk|Whitland}}, {{stnlnk|Llanelli}} and {{stnlnk|Swansea}}
* Daily daytime service from {{stnlnk|Fishguard Harbour}} to {{stnlnk|London Paddington}}, stopping only at {{stnlnk|Whitland}} and {{stnlnk|Llanelli}}, and also operating express to/from London stopping only at {{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}}. This train was noted for its non-stop through-service to principal stations like {{stnlnk|Reading}}, {{stnlnk|Bristol Parkway}} and {{stnlnk|Newport}}
* Daily sleeper service from {{stnlnk|Milford Haven}} to London<ref name="Parker"/>

=== Transport for Wales ===
* {{stnlnk|Milford Haven}} to {{stnlnk|Manchester Piccadilly}} via {{stnlnk|Swansea}} – every two hours
* {{stnlnk|Pembroke Dock}} to {{stnlnk|Swansea}} – every two hours
** A standard repeating departure time results in a 58-minute layover at {{stnlnk|Pembroke Dock}}, with trains passing each other at {{stnlnk|Tenby}}, the only passing loop between {{stnlnk|Whitland}} and Pembroke Dock
* {{stnlnk|Carmarthen}} to {{stnlnk|Manchester Piccadilly}} via {{stnlnk|Swansea}} – every two hours
** Together with the Milford Haven–Manchester service this makes Carmarthen to Manchester hourly

Transport for Wales have proposed operating additional services to Tenby, from Swansea, in the Summer of 2025.  

Most services are timed to provide a connection at {{stnlnk|Swansea}} to Great Western Railway services to {{stnlnk|London Paddington}}

=== Other services ===
* {{stnlnk|Fishguard Harbour}} to {{stnlnk|Swansea}} – one train per night, connecting with the night ferry to [[Rosslare Europort]], [[Ireland]]
* {{stnlnk|Fishguard Harbour}} to {{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}} avoiding {{stnlnk|Swansea}} – one train per day (normally via the [[Swansea District Line]]), connecting with daytime conventional ferry to [[Rosslare Europort]], [[Ireland]]
* Heart of Wales Line services between {{stnlnk|Shrewsbury}} and {{stnlnk|Swansea}} (four trains a day) travel over the Swansea to Llanelli section of the West Wales Lines.
* Irregular local trains to and from {{stnlnk|Fishguard Harbour}} (some going only as far east as {{stnlnk|Clarbeston Road}} some coming all the way from Cardiff (via {{stnlnk|Swansea}})) which started on 12 September 2011, after a petition organised by two 15-year-olds.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-12909398|title=Pupils' petition for more Fishguard trains pays off|work=BBC News|date=30 March 2011 |access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref>  Funding will be provided by the Welsh Assembly Government at the cost of £1.4m per annum. One of these extra trains in each direction was expected to connect with the summer-only Stena Lynx fast ferry to [[Rosslare Europort]], [[Ireland]] in summer 2012, however Stena line then sold the Lynx fastcraft which means the summer 2012 Lynx service will no longer operate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/ferry-news/item/17174-farewell-as-stena-line%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98lynx%E2%80%99-fast-ferry-sets-sail-for-south-korea|title=Farewell as Stena Line's 'Lynx' Fast-Ferry Sets Sail for South Korea|work=afloat.ie|access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref>

=== Freight ===
The junction on the Fishguard branch to the former North Pembrokeshire and Fishguard Railway, which now leads to the former [[RNAD Trecwn]] site, has been refurbished. 
* One of the oil refineries near Milford Haven generates daily long-distance freight trains.
* The Tata Trostre tinplate works generates some freight traffic

== Developments & upgrades ==
[[File:Loughor Viaduct.JPG|thumb|right|The former wooden Loughor Rail Viaduct was replaced by a concrete/steel structure in 2013.]]
In August 2006, [[SWWITCH]] performed a case review of the Fishguard branch to decide whether it was economically viable to continue to operate a passenger service to the harbour given the very scant (boat-trains only) service. In 2011, a local campaign resulted in extra service being launched. A year later it was announced that the closed [[Fishguard and Goodwick railway station]] would reopen.<ref>{{cite news|title=Goodwick railway station near Fishguard to reopen|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-16074132|access-date=2 January 2012 | work=BBC News|date=2 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Station on track for March opening|url=http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/content.asp?id=23546|access-date=15 April 2012}}</ref>

In December 2008 the [[Welsh Assembly]] announced it had secured funding from the [[European Fund for Strategic Investments]] to upgrade sections of the line between Gowerton and [[Loughor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Transport&F=1&id=15723|title=Wales Holiday Accommodation – Cottages, Hotels, Bed and Breakfast :: Stay in Wales|author=OnlineWales Internet Ltd 20150411|work=Stay in Wales|access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> The work, which was completed by 8 July 2013, included the replacement of the wooden [[Loughor]] Rail Viaduct with a concrete/steel structure across the [[River Loughor]], the subsequent redoubling of the line between {{rws|Swansea}} and {{rws|Llanelli}} and the reopening on the old platform at [[Gowerton railway station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/transport/2013/7596767/?lang=en|title=Welsh Government – Rail Improvement Delivers a New Beginning to South West Wales|date=8 July 2013|work=wales.gov.uk|access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> The improvement work has allowed more trains to stop at [[Gowerton railway station|Gowerton]] while decreasing overall travel times, and an increase in the frequency of services between Swansea and Llanelli. In 2015, [[Network Rail]] made the proposal to reopen {{rws|Cockett}} in its annual Strategic Business Plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/R14%20-%20South%20and%20Central%20Wales%20and%20Borders.pdf|title=Network Rail|work=networkrail.co.uk|access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref>

In 2018 community campaigning began to improve services and facilities at {{rws|Pembroke Dock}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://pembrokeshire-herald.com/42319/pembroke-dock-plans-to-put-train-station-back-on-the-map/|title=Pembroke Dock: Plans to put train station back on the map|date= March 6, 2018|newspaper=[[The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Traws Link Cymru]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
{{commons category|West Wales Line}}
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
*{{cite magazine|title=Pembroke prospects|first=Deryck|last=Lewis|pages=44–45|issue=95|date=4–17 May 1989|magazine=[[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]]|publisher=EMAP National Publications|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

{{Railway lines in Wales}}
{{Transport in Carmarthenshire}}
{{Transport in Swansea}}
{{Transport in Pembrokeshire}}
{{Historical Welsh railway companies}}

[[Category:Railway lines in Wales]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Swansea]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Carmarthenshire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Pembrokeshire]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1868]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 1897]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in Wales]]
[[Category:1868 establishments in Wales]]