Fresh cash call to bring back lost West Wales rail line
Traws Link Cymru, set up in 2013, wants to reinstate the route axed in the 1960s Beeching Cuts. They say poor roads and patchy rail links are choking Mid and West Wales, leaving communities cut off and opportunities wasted.
“Realising the potential of this region requires vision, planning and inward investment. But the poor communications network remains a major drawback,” the group said.
‘Kick‑start regeneration’
The campaign argues new tracks would kick‑start economic and social regeneration, opening up tourism, agriculture and small industries. They point to three university campuses, the National Library of Wales, the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments, and S4C’s headquarters — all hampered by poor transport.
Supporters say journeys of less than 50 miles can take hours, underlining the lack of direct north‑south connectivity.
Political row over the line
The future of the route has become a political flashpoint. Plaid Senedd member, Adam Price has accused ministers of failing to act and warned the project is at risk unless the Welsh Government formally protects the corridor from development.
“It is not acceptable for the Welsh Government to essentially wash their hands of this commitment. They are dragging their feet and putting this whole project at risk.”
A feasibility study in 2018 put the cost of reopening at £775 million, but campaigners argue little progress has been made since. More recent estimates suggest the bill could rise to around £2 billion. Critics say it’s a huge price tag with no guarantee of political backing. Campaigners counter that the benefits — jobs, investment and national cohesion — would outweigh the costs.
Transport Secretary Ken Skates has pushed back, warning that land protections could harm communities.
“Putting land protections in place for the reopening of sections of railway lines can risk creating blight to landowners, it can have a potential economic cost to communities, and there would also be the obvious ongoing resourcing cost to maintain the protections.”
He added that reopening remains a longer‑term option, subject to full value‑for‑money tests.
An Aberystwyth to Carmarthen steam service arrives at Tregaron station, c.1950s. The rural halt, now long disused, once connected communities across Mid Wales before the line was closed under the Beeching Cuts.Local voices demand action
Community campaigner and independent Senedd candidate for Caerfyrddin, Carl Peters‑Bond, says the time for delay is over.
“This rail link should have been rebuilt decades ago. Communities across West Wales have been left waiting while investment pours into Cardiff and the Valleys.”
He said stations at Llandysul, Llanybydder and Lampeter must be part of the plan to serve towns that have been overlooked.
“People are tired of political point‑scoring. What we need now is real investment in infrastructure that connects our communities, supports local businesses, and gives young people a reason to stay in West Wales.”
Carl added that the project is about fairness as much as transport.
“If we want a stronger, fairer Wales, we need to stop talking and start building. West Wales deserves the same opportunities as the rest of the country — and that starts with laying tracks.”
Traws Link Cymru say their crowdfunding page is live at JustGiving, with donations going towards campaign costs including meetings, advertising and lobbying.
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#Aberystwyth #AdamPriceMS #CarlPetersBond #Carmarthen #CarmarthenToAberystwythRailLink #KenSkatesMS #Lampeter #Llandysul #Llanybydder #railInvestment #railLink #TrawsLinkCymru #WestWalesRail
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has finalized a KRW 1.6 trillion ($1.15 billion) project to build a 48.3 km rail link to Saemangeum Port by 2033, aiming to boost regional logistics and tourism.
The Transport Ministry (#MOT) is confident that the East Coast Rail Link (#ECRL) will complete on schedule in December 2026 & be operational from January 2027
ECRL will be a four-hour travel time between #KotaBharu and #KualaLumpur compared to seven-hour car journey
Construction progress of the line as at March 2024 is 64% with the line traversing four states: #Kelantan, #Terengganu, #Pahang & #Selangor
SEPANG: The Transport Ministry is confident that the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) will be completed on schedule in December 2026 and will be operational from January 2027, with a four-hour travel time between Kota Bharu and Kuala Lumpur compared with a seven-hour car journey.
The issue of extending the #EastCoastRailLink (#ECRL) to #RantauPanjang is still being studied and has been discussed by the government at the recent Malay Economic Action Council (#MTEM) meeting
While discussions have leaned towards the proposal to create a more strategic route, particularly with neighbouring Thailand, no decision has been made yet
#eastcoast #raillink #railway #rail #train #station #Kelantan #passenger #passengers #stations #trains #rails
KUALA LUMPUR: The issue of extending the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) to Rantau Panjang is still being studied and has been discussed by the government at the recent Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM) meeting, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
The #track #installation for the first phase of the #EastCoastRailLink (#ECRL) project, spanning from #KuantanPortCity (#KPC) in #Pahang to #Dungun in #Terengganu, covering a distance of 92km, has been accomplished a month ahead of the projected schedule
The achievement was attributed to the innovative CCPG-500A track laying machine, marking a pioneering advancement in the nation's #rail sector
#EastCoast #railway #trackinstallation #raillink #tracklaying
KUANTAN: The track installation for the first phase of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, spanning from Kuantan Port City (KPC), Pahang, to Dungun, Terengganu, covering a distance of 92km, has been accomplished a month ahead of the projected schedule.
The #EastCoastRailLink (#ECRL) is anticipated to contribute a 3.8% increase to #Malaysia’s gross domestic product (#GDP) by 2047 by enhancing trade, boosting tourism and stimulating regional development
The ECRL project is more than just a #rail link cutting across #Kelantan, #Terengganu, #Pahang and #Selangor, but can also serve as a cornerstone for economic growth and social progress
Read more: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/03/09/ecrl-could-boost-nations-gdp-by-4-says-zafrul
#railway #raillink #train #trains #passenger #passengers #railways #rails
KUALA LUMPUR: The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is anticipated to contribute a 3.8% increase to Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2047 by enhancing trade, boosting tourism and stimulating regional development, said the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister.
#CoronationSquare is set to be an integral part of the #RapidTransitSystemLink (#RTSLink) between #JohorBaru & Singapore
It will be connected via an elevated walkway & house about 700 #parking bays for the #raillink project as they are building 210m #walkway to the #RTS
There will also be 250m walkway from #PersadaJohor to Sultan Ibrahim Customs, Immigration & Quarantine (#CIQ) complex
Read more: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/01/31/coronation-square-anchors-rts-link
#RapidTransitSystem #metro #crossborder #rail #railway #subway #train
Approximately 40% of #truck #drivers have left their posts to join the installation of the East Coast Rail Link (#ECRL) project
This raised concerns over a shortage of drivers in the #KlangValley and its adverse impact on local #construction projects
The key reason for the migration was that working for ECRL gives better pay, had fixed hours and there's less hassle with dealing with enforcement agencies
The #EastCoastRailLink (#ECRL) clarified that as of November 30 last year, a total of RM13.64 billion in contract value had been awarded to local companies consisting of #contractors, #consultants & local #suppliers
From this amount, the contract value that has been awarded to #Bumiputera contractors, consultants and suppliers as of November 30 last year was RM2.66 billion or 76.07 per cent of the target of RM3.50 billion
Mathrubhumi English
Editor
Yonhap Infomax News
Malaysia Public Transport
