North–South Wales railway

A North–South Wales railway, also known as Traws Link Cymru (lit. 'Trans Link Wales') is a proposed rail service line that would link North and South Wales via a western rail line from Swansea to Bangor. This includes re-opening the Carmarthen–Aberyswyth and the Bangor–Afon Wen line.

For the existing North–South Wales rail service, passing through parts of England, see Premier Service.

Campaign

The campaign group, Traws Link Cymru was founded in 2013 and its aim is to reopen the Aberystwyth–Carmarthen and Afon Wen–Bangor rail lines which were closed as part of the Beeching cuts in the 1960s. Since those cuts, rail travel between Carmarthen and Bangor takes a six-hour journey that must go outside Wales and through Hereford, Shrewsbury and Chester (although it Is possible to travel the route by bus)[1]

In March 2020, the campaign group gained media attention following campaigning for several years to re-open the line south from Aberystwyth to Carmarthen and a £300,000 feasibility study was carried out. Spokesman Elfed Wyn Jones stated, "Reopening the railway would benefit villages and towns along the track and by reinstating the line between Afon-wen and Bangor, as well as reopening the line between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen, would create a rail network within Wales, between the North and the South, rather than travelling for extra hours and distance through England to complete the journey."[2]

An agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Labour Welsh Government was made which included transport in Wales, and would “ask Transport for Wales and other partners to explore how transport links between the north and south of Wales can be developed”. The agreement would also explore “how to protect potential travel corridors along the western coast of Wales from Swansea to Bangor”.[3]

In June 2021, Transport for Wales stated there were no plans to open a north-south route, and that such a route would be slower than going through England.[4]

Carmarthen–Aberyswyth
Aberystwyth railway station platforms.

Official talks of reopening started in 2014 when First Minister Carwyn Jones shared his support towards the reopening,[5] and it was adopted as an official policy of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.[6] The next two years were followed by support from Carmarthenshire County Council, Ceredigion County Council, the Minister for Science, Economy and Transport (Welsh Government) and Plaid Cymru.[7] Official talks and meetings included Stephen Crabb MP, Secretary of State for Wales and James Price, Director General, Economy, Science and Transport (Welsh Government) shortly followed by the AECOM report.[8]

In October 2016, the Welsh government announced it would be allocating £300,000 towards funding a feasibility report into re-opening the railway as part of the draft 2017–18 budget.[9] The study is being carried out by engineering consultancy, Mott MacDonald and began in September 2017.[10] Subsequently, Ken Skates, the Welsh Transport Minister consulted the Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, explaining that the reopening of the line was important to revitalise the Welsh economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

In October 2018, the Welsh Government published the full feasibility study which showed that there were no major obstacles to reopening and that the project would cost up to £775m although this was subject to a number of unknown further costs being determined such as the crossing of Trawscoed Bog.[12] In September 2020, this was revised to £620 million by the campaign group Traws Link Cymru.[13] The group's report concluded that 97% of the original trackbed was already clear and that reopening the line is realistic.[1]

In 2022, the Welsh government's National Transport Delivery Plan suggested that the case for a rail link between the south of Wales and Aberystwyth could be made by 2025 and the plan and design drawn up by 2027. The document also suggested that planning could continue beyond that point.[3]

In December 2022, former Ceredigion MP and leader of Welsh Liberal Democrats, Mark Williams said that an Aberystwyth-Carmarthen rail link could be a major factor in keeping young people and skilled workers and build up the economy in the area.[14]

Bangor railway station platforms

Bangor–Afon Wen

In November 2020, regional MS Llyr Gruffydd described the “gaping hole” in rail infrastructure and that re-opening the rail link between Bangor and Afon Wen would “help integrate public transport in Gwynedd and down the western coast of Wales.”[15]

In 2021, a report by the Welsh government showed a green arrow pointing southwards from Bangor to Afon Wen. This was interpreted by the campaign group "Traws Link Cymru" that Afon Wen to Bangor or a part of the route is now being considered as part of a "North Wales Metro".[16][17]

See also

References
  1. "Campaign to reopen north-south Carmarthen to Bangor rail link launches fundraising drive". Nation.Cymru. 2021-04-06. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  2. Crump, Eryl (2020-03-21). "Campaigners want these two railway lines reopened to link North and South Wales". North Wales Live. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  3. "Plan to outline rail link between the south of Wales and Aberystwyth by 2027". Nation.Cymru. 2022-07-21. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  4. "Faster to go through England than reopen north-south Wales railway say Transport for Wales". Nation.Cymru. 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  5. "First Minister Shows his support". Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  6. "Welsh Lib Dems Signal Support for Reopening". Welsh Liberal Democrats.
  7. "Plaid Cymru Support". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. – note the 5th paragraph down
  8. "AECOM Report" (PDF). Traws Link Cymru. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 November 2020.
  9. Higgs, David. "Carmarthen to Aberystwyth rail links a step closer after funding pledge". South Wales Evening Post. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  10. Betteley, Chris (28 August 2017). "Aberystwyth-Carmarthen railway feasibility study to begin next month". Cambrian News. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  11. "Call for new Carno station and reintroduction of Aberystwyth to Carmarthen line". Cambrian News. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  12. "New hope for reopening Aberystwyth-Carmarthen rail line". BBC News. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  13. Davies, Dylan (23 September 2020). "Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway line would cost £620 million". Cambrian News. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  14. "Re-opening of Aber-Carmarthen rail link 'would keep young people in Ceredigion'". Tivyside Advertiser. December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  15. "Call for Welsh Government to back re-opening a Gwynedd railway line". North Wales Chronicle. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  16. "New Welsh Government rail map raises campaigners' hope for a north-south railway". Nation.Cymru. 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  17. "Gobaith newydd o gael rheilffordd a threnau o Fangor i Gaernarfon, Afonwen ac Amlwch". Golwg360 (in Welsh). 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
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