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Arriva Trains Wales |
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The
Heart of Wales Branch This is an extract from the page on Arriva Trains Wales. To
access the main site select either the North Wales, The Marches,
and Chepstow-Swansea section, the Heart of Wales, Swansea and
West Wales section, or the full version which combines the
two. Search WalesRails .......... Message Board |
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The Heart of Wales line (officially the Central Wales line) is the nearest to a quiet backwater it is possible to get on the modern railway. Though the first part of the line threads through a formerly industrialised region, beyond Ammanford the line passes through some of the most romantic scenery in the British Isles. Winding track and steep gradients means that the 90-mile journey between Llanelli and Craven Arms takes all of three hours to complete, but the reward for the leisurely pace are the views from the windows of the train. Though many places along the route had been famed for their healing waters since the early part of the seventeenth century, it was the coming of the railway which established the spa townships, though the modern railway has dropped the 'Wells' suffix from Llandrindod, Llangammarch and Llanwrtyd stations in present-day timetables.
Please note. The period of validity of the National Network timetables has
changed.
Any times and travel details given apply only for the currency of the
timetable valid until May 17 2008.
Monday to Saturday, Northbound trains leave Llanelli at 4.55am,
9.37am, 1.37pm and 6.41pm. Trains leave Swansea approximately 20 minutes earlier. These
trains call at Church Stretton at 8.06am, 12.50pm, 4.50pm and 9.50pm,
arriving at Shrewsbury at 8.21am, 1.07pm, 5.10pm and 10.12pm.
On Sundays, trains leave Llanelli at 111.29am and 3.38pm, arriving
Church Stretton at 3.15pm and 7.08; and Shrewsbury at 3.33pm and
7.23pm. Because of an additional stop at Gowerton, train leave Swansea some 30
minutes earlier than Llanelli
Monday to Saturday, Southbound trains leave Shrewsbury at
5.19am, 9.05am, 2.05pm and 6.05; Church Stretton at 5.36am, 9.22am,
2.23pm and 6.23pm; and Craven Arms at 5.50am, 9.35am, 2.36pm and 6.35pm.
Arrival at Llanelli is at 8.43am, 12.30pm, 5.28pm and 9.42pm.
On Sundays, trains leave Shrewsbury at 12.07pm and 4.24pm;
Church Stretton at 12.24pm and 4.42pm; and Craven Arms at 12.36pm and
4.53pm, arriving at Llanelli at 3.42pm and 7.49pm.
Station names in italics indicate that these are request stops only.
Figures after station names show the approximate journey times from Llanelli
with the approximate journey times from Craven Arms in brackets.
Swansea 20 mins (235)
Wales' second city, Swansea was extensively damaged during World War II. Over the years,
the bomb damaged areas have been replaced with modern shops and houses, a process
completed with redevelopment of defunct dockland to create the Maritime Quarter.
It has a modern shopping centre, with many attractive parks close by.
The Grand Theatre celebrated its centenary in 1997, and has been refurbished to a very
high standard. It was opened by the celebrated Italian soprano Madame Adelina Patti, whose
pavilion stands in Gors Lane.
A barrage across the mouth of the River Tawe, and the conversion of part of the former
dockland area into a picturesque marina, has given Swansea an attractive waterfront
quarter which harks back to its seagoing heritage. On the northern quay of the marina is
the Swansea Industrial and Maritime Museum - which will soon become the Welsh Industrial
and Maritime Museum - with extensive displays and artefacts which highlight that
heritage. Close to the Dylan Thomas Theatre is a statue of one of Swansea's most famous
sons: the writer, poet and playwright, most notoriously of 'Under Milk Wood' a wickedly
whimsical day in the life of the fishing village of Llareggub (try reading the cod-Welsh
name backwards!).
The city's university is located at Singleton Park, a public area which has a boating lake
amongst its many attractions.
Swansea is the gateway to west Wales, but closer at hand is the Mumbles, famed as the site of the world's first passenger railway, which used steam,
diesel, electric - and even sail - power in its 153-year existence from 1807 until 1960.
There were plans to resurrect the Railway using a revolutionary flywheel driven tram
system, but this has been abandoned, one reason - ironically - being that the original
route has been developed as a promenade and cycleway. Mumbles pier houses the
Swansea lifeboat station.
To the west is the Gower peninsular - the first region in Britain to be
designated an area of outstanding natural beauty - with numerous bays and inlets
and a coastal cliff-top path. The northern coast is flatter with salt marshes
forming the boundary with the sea.
Soon, the train arrives at
The train now backtracks to the junction noted earlier, and soon reaches:
Bynea 5 mins (169)
The steelworks which overshadowed Bynea were demolished over 25 years ago, to leave a
pleasant town nestling on the edge of the salt marshes of the River Loughor.
Llangennech 11 mins (166)
is another former industrial town, built where the River Morlais flows into the Loughor.
Pontarddulais 13 mins (162)
was built around the tin-plate industry little more than a century-and-a-quarter ago,
though the fame of Pontarddulais now rests predominantly with its brass band and male
voice choir. There is an ancient church and castle motte on the marshes of the river
estuary.
Pantyffynnon 20 mins (156)
The century-old signal box which stands just outside the station controls all the
signalling for the branch until it reaches Craven Arms.
Ammanford 23 mins (153)
A former mining town on the edge of the anthracite belt of the South Field coalfield,
Ammanford is now the largest township on the HoW line.
From Ammanford, the true rurality of the branch soon becomes evident. The area around
Llandybie 32 mins (149)
is marred by limestone quarries, though the disused kilns have more than a hint of Gothic
Victorian in their architecture. The church dates from the 14th century, while the Plas is
the ruin of a 17th century mansion.
Ffairfach 35 mins (142)
is a small village located near where the River Cennen flows into the much larger Towy
Llandeilo 37 mins (137)
is named after one of Wales' most famous saints. St Teilo was a 6th century missionary
dedicated to converted Britain to Christianity. The station is located on the eastern edge
of the town near the banks of the River Towy, from where the road winds between brightly
coloured houses to the church and to ruin of Dynevor Castle.
Llangadog 49 mins (128)
church commemorates another of Wales' saints, this time St Cadoc who flourished toward the
end of the 5th century.
Llanwrda 52 mins (124)
was the site of the sister church to Llangadog, and is located up-river on the opposite
bank of the Towy.
Llandovery 59 mins (112)
(pictured left) is a busy market town, a mix of Georgian and Victorian architecture
surrounded by gentle hills. The ruins of the castle overlook the cattle market. The
Methodist chapel commemorates the best-known writers of Welsh hymns: William Williams of
Pantycelyn, a farm five miles outside the town. Llandovery College is one of only two
public schools in Wales (the other is at Brecon).
Cynghordy 69 mins
(104)
which name derives from a former meeting house, is the remote location
for two of the engineering wonders of the line; the 93ft high Cynghordy viaduct, and the
1,000-yard Sugar Loaf Tunnel. The viaduct is 650 feet in length and consists of 18 arched
spans. The mid-point of Sugar Loaf Tunnel is directly underneath the county boundaries of
Carmarthenshire and Powys.
Sugar Loaf Halt 77 mins (97)
Like Cynghordy, is remotely located, and both stations are ideal starting points for
rambles in the surrounding countryside.
Llanwrtyd Wells
83 mins (89)
(pictured left)
was established as a spa town as far back as 1732. Reputedly the smallest town in Britain,
and set on the edge of the Cambrian mountain range, red kite and other birds of prey can
be seen wheeling overhead. Near by, Lake Abernant offers fishing and boating facilities.
It is also the home of the annual man-versus-horse race, won this year by a man
for the first time in the competition's history.
Llangammarch 91 mins (83)
Yet another spa town, its waters are claimed as unique in that they contain barium
chloride, considered an infallible cure for all forms of heart complaint.
Garth 95 mins (79)
serves a quiet spa village, and is surrounded by beautiful countryside.
Cilmeri 100 mins (74)
has great significance for patriotic Welshmen as it was here that Llywelyn, the last
native Prince of Wales, met his death in 1282. A stone monument which marks the spot can
be seen from the train, west of the station.
Builth Road 103 mins (71)
is two miles from the town of Builth Wells, where the pump room is a reminder of its spa
origins in the 1780s. The town stands on the River Wye which is crossed by an 18th century
stone bridge. Parts of the church date from the 13th century , and contains an effigy of
Sir John Lloid, a personal attendant of Queen Elizabeth I. At Llanelwedd, outside the
town, the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show is held.
Llandrindod 114 mins (58)
(in English, the Church of the Trinity) developed as a spa town from 1749, but the
benefits of its waters were well-known for at least fifty years before. Every August, the
town steeps itself in Victorianna during its annual festival.
Penybont 127 mins (49)
was once the centre for horse races, in particular those employing the use of sulkies, a
light trap-like cart which carries the 'jockey'.
Dolau 132 mins (45)
Like most stations on the Heart of Wales line, it is looked after by local station
adoption groups, and is a frequent winner of the annual Best Kept Station award.
Llanbister Road 138 mins (39)
is ideally located for walks in the Radnor Forest, as is
Llangynllo 143 mins (35)
the next station along. Just before the 645-yard long Llangynllo Tunnel the line reaches
980 feet above sea level, the highest point on the branch.
Knucklas 149 mins (27)
is approached over a 465-yard viaduct a with distinctive castellated turrets which carry
the line 69 ft above the valley floor.
Knighton 155 mins (20)
straddles Offa's Dyke, the traditional boundary between Wales and England: the town in the
former country but the station located over the border. Though in Wales, the architecture
of Knighton's Norman Church is more typical of neighbouring Herefordshire.
The remaining stations are Bucknell, Hopton Heath, and Broome before Craven
Arms, which owes its name to one of the old coaching inns on the road between North
and South Wales, is reached. Craven Arms is on the Marches line which runs northward to
Shrewsbury, and southward to Hereford and Newport in the south. (See the North Wales and Marches section of the Wales and West pages.
This is an extract from the page on the Arriva Trains Wales.
To access the main site select either the North Wales, The Marches,
and Chepstow-Swansea section, the Heart of Wales, Swansea and
West Wales section, or the full version which combines the
two.
Select this link to return to the Gazetteer of Stations or Route Sections page.
The Heart of Wales Line Travellers' Association exists to support and develop the line. Select the link to visit the Association's official web site.
Copyright © 1998/9/2000/1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8 by Deryck Lewis. All
rights reserved.
Page created January 28 1998; Redesigned March 29 1999; Updated February 6 2008
If you have any suggestions, comments, or glitches to report, please contact the
author at WalesRails
