Cambrian line growth

Service improvements on the scenic mid-Wales route are paying off, reports THEO STEEL

The Cambrian lines are one of the three railways to the west coast of Wales and stretch west from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth, with the coastal line running from Dovey Junction to Pwllheli. The service has progressively improved and in particular since the installation of European Train Control System in 2011. ETCS was installed as a prototype system at a cost of £59 million.

The route is typically single track with passing loops; some are now dynamic on the main line. The coastal route is low speed with frequent stops, including some request stops. There were 16 stations closed on the main line in the 1960s and five closed on the coast – unusually three of these were closed in the 1980s due to the wooden structures being beyond repair or in one case to avoid lighting being installed. Llandecwyn was considered for closure recently but in the end rebuilt.

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