Latest news with #GreatWestern
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Powys County Times
Celebrating the Powys railway which won the heart of royalty
IT IS not surprising the the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway holds a special place in the heart of so many. Indeed, it is even close to the heart of King Charles III who visited back in his princely days and was met by awe-struck locals and children alike. The railway was built in 1903 to link farming communities with the market town of Welshpool and provide them with an outlet for their produce. Operated at first by the Cambrian Railways, the line was taken over by the Great Western and then British Railways. After 1931 the railway only carried freight traffic and was finally closed in 1956 but in 1963 a group of enthusiasts rallied round and began to progressively re-open the line until it became the railway you see today. Today the 'Llanfair Train' sits in the platform at Welshpool Raven Square with the engine steaming gently at the head of charming balconied carriages which promise the traveller a wonderful ride along a country by-way. The train negotiates a viaduct and river bridge, climbs the notoriously steep Golfa Bank and steams serenely through beautiful countryside. The railway marked its centenary in 2003 and several pictures from the event are included in our nostalgic reel while others range from the start of the 2000s. Gareth Evans and Alan Doig in front of Sir Drefaldwyn. (Image: County Times.) Alun Evans, James Batson and Jennifer Adey hard at work on track maintenance. (Image: County Times.) New Members Day at the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway. Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway Centenary memories from 2003. Pictured are Graham Hall and Triston Lister. (Image: County Times.) Celebrating the centenary in 2003. (Image: County Times.) HRH Prince Charles on his visit to Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway. Centenary celebrations at Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway in 2003. (Image: County Times.)
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Wales Online
Rail passengers to face disruption within days as major engineering works take place
Rail passengers to face disruption within days as major engineering works take place The disruption will affect services between June 9 and June 20 A Transport for Wales Class 197 train in Cardiff Central Major engineering work will be taking place between Cardiff Central and Newport starting next week, Transport for Wales has said. Between Monday, June 9, and Friday, June 13, trains will still run, but will use the slower relief set of tracks on this part of the route. As a result, most main line south Wales train services will be amended, with services having extended journey times. Services between Cardiff and Newport will also be busier than usual as the number of services running between Cardiff and Newport will be reduced. Due to the Severn Tunnel also being closed from June 9 to 20, Great Western Railway will only be running an hourly London service via Gloucester on this section of the line. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Customers are advised to check their journey plans before they travel. Southbound services from Manchester Piccadilly, Holyhead, Chester, Crewe, Hereford and Shrewsbury to Cardiff Central will have extended journey times between Cwmbran and Cardiff Central. Article continues below Northbound services from Cardiff to these destinations will depart Cardiff Central earlier, allowing them to run from their usual departure times from Newport onwards. The 5.43am Swansea to Manchester Piccadilly will not call at Craven Arms (8.25am) and Church Stretton (8.34am). Ebbw Vale / Maesteg / Cheltenham Ebbw Vale to Cardiff Central services will be diverted and call additionally at Newport with extended journey times. Trains from Cardiff to Ebbw Vale will depart Cardiff Central earlier than usual. Most Ebbw Vale services will not extend to Maesteg except for some late-night services. West Wales Many services to and from West Wales (Swansea, Carmarthen, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard Harbour) will be affected, with services being retimed, journey times extended, some services not running and through services to and from Swansea, Cardiff and Manchester in particular being affected. Visit Transport for Wales' service amendments webpage for more details on the works. Article continues below Great Western services in June and July will be impacted, as well as a week of services in October. You can read more about that by clicking here.
Wales Online
7 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Rail disruption to hit Wales across the summer
Rail disruption to hit Wales across the summer Passengers can expect longer journeys, reduced services and some bus replacements as a result of the works Great Western services to and from south Wales will be impacted by works (Image: Matthew Horwood ) Rail works will cause weeks of disruption to services to and from south Wales. Rail improvement works will affect trains via Bristol Parkway as well as train services between Bristol and south Wales will be impacted, operator Great Western Railway said. GWR say the works in Bristol will eventually mean more rail services but that track improvements and changes to signalling are needed. Great Western services in June and July will be impacted, as well as a week of services in October. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Bristol to South Wales Monday, June 9 to Friday, June 20 and Sunday, June 29 There will be no direct trains between Bristol and south Wales on these dates due to track renewal and maintenance work. Services between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour start/terminate at Bristol Parkway Services between Cardiff Central and Taunton or Exeter St Davids start/terminate at Bristol Temple Meads Article continues below Monday, June 9 to Saturday, June 14 plus Monday, June 16 to Friday, June 20 Customers travelling between Bristol and south Wales should change at Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa, where trains will still be running to and from South Wales. Trains between London and south Wales will use an alternative route between Swindon and Newport – stopping at Gloucester instead of Bristol Parkway. A limited train service will still run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway. Replacement buses are also planned between Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel Junction/Newport, but these will be limited services only. Sunday, June 15 Rail replacement services are planned to operate between Bristol Parkway and Newport or Cardiff Central on this date. Trains will still run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway, plus between Newport and Swansea or Carmarthen. Trains between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads will also be reduced to hourly services. Sunday, June 29 Customers travelling between Bristol and south Wales can change at Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa, where trains will still be running to/from south Wales. Trains between London and south Wales will be diverted via Gloucester, not stopping at Bristol Parkway, until around 4pm. There will be a limited train service between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway. Replacement buses are also planned between Bristol Parkway and Newport until 3.30pm. Bristol Parkway to Swindon Monday, July 7 to Sunday, July 13 Trains between south Wales and London will have to use an alternative route between Bristol Parkway and Swindon due to tunnel drainage work between Bristol Parkway and Swindon. It means journey times will be around 30 minutes longer and most services for south Wales will be only run hourly rather than half-hourly. Bristol to south Wales Sunday, July 20 Track renewal and maintenance work will affect train services via the Severn Tunnel until midday, plus drainage work is also planned between Bristol Parkway and Swindon. It means trains between London and south Wales will use an alternative route between Swindon and Newport – stopping at Gloucester instead of Bristol Parkway until around 4pm. Some trains between Bristol Parkway and London Paddington will use an alternative route between Bristol Parkway and Swindon – meaning journeys will be 30 minutes longer. As an alternative, customers can still travel via Bristol Temple Meads during this period. Trains between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour or Exeter St Davids will start/terminate at Bristol Parkway instead of Cardiff Central until around 11.30am. Replacement buses are planned between Bristol Parkway and Newport. Bristol and Bath Spa Monday, October 27, to Thursday, October 30 Article continues below Rail improvement work will affect services between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa. This week is half term in Wales. Part of the works are because Bristol Temple Meads is having a major transformation.
