Maesteg Line

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Maesteg Line
standard gauge
Electrification	None
Route map (Click to expand) Show map Legend Llynvi & Ogmore Railway to Caerau Maesteg Maesteg (Ewenny Road) Garth Troedyrhiew Garth Llangynwyd Ogmore Valley Railway & Garw Valley Railway Llynvi & Ogmore Railway & Port Talbot Railway & Docks Company Tondu Aberkenfig Sarn Wildmill South Wales Main Line to Swansea Bridgend South Wales Main Line to Cardiff Central Vale of Glamorgan Line to Cardiff Central Show route diagram

The Maesteg Line is a

.

Electrification by 2019 was announced in the Department for Transport's High Level Output Specification of 2012.^[2]

History

The

(L&OVR) was formed on 28 June 1866 (itself the amalgamation of earlier lines); a standard gauge line as opposed to the main line. On 1 July 1873 the GWR took over the L&OVR.

The line from Bridgend originally operated beyond Maesteg through

and Cymmer connected with east–west routes across the Llynfi and Afan valleys.

The Maesteg branch was closed to passenger trains in 1970 (though it remained in use for coal traffic until 1988), and the link with the Afan Valley was lost due to the closure of the Cymmer Tunnel.

A long campaign in the late 1980s and early 90s, resulted in the reopening of the line in 1992 as far as Maesteg by British Rail and Mid Glamorgan County Council. The new stations and line were officially opened by Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and a plaque was unveiled at Maesteg station.

The railway north of Maesteg continued to exist until 2004, however it was removed as part of the Maesteg Washery reclamation scheme. The track to the north of Llynfi North Junction, including the former Nantyffyllon and Caerau stations, have been part of a major housing developments. Reconnection with

is financially unviable to reinstate;– the tunnel portal is still visible at the Caerau end but it is completely buried at the Cymmer end.

Today the line is operated by

in December 2003.

References

• Historical notes are taken from The Railway Magazine July 1955, pp 445–454

External links

• Media related to Maesteg Line at Wikimedia Commons