The Heart of Wales railway line, a 150 year old route stretching 121 miles through some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes, has been named one of Europe’s best rail journeys by renowned travel guide Lonely Planet. The line, which runs from the estuaries of south Wales to “one of England’s prettiest medieval cities”, was praised as “a spectrum of scenery”.
It was ranked among the top 10 European train journeys, alongside Le Petit Train Juane in the French Pyrenees, The Berina Express in Switzerland and The Brenner Railway passing through Germany, Austria and Italy.
However, concerns over the future of this iconic line have been voiced by local councillors, following a reduction in services on the route, which connects Swansea and Shrewsbury. The journey, which takes four hours end-to-end and passes through towns and villages such as Llandeilo and Llandovery in south-west Wales and Craven Arms and Church Stretton further north, is set to see its services reduced from five to four per day from December this year, according to WalesOnline.
This will also include the removal of two late evening services to the towns of Llandovery and Llandindrod Wells, as announced by operator Transport for Wales (TfW).
Carmarthenshire councillors have backed a motion suggesting that the long-term future of the Heart of Wales Line could be in jeopardy due to decades of under-investment and service reductions. The councillors urge the Welsh Government to reconsider the decision taken by Transport for Wales (TfW), reports the Express.
The Heart of Wales Line, which boasts numerous stops including Bynea, Llangennech, Pontarddulais, Pantyffynnon, Ammanford, Llandybie, Ffairfach, among many others, was explored by Reporter Robert Harries in 2023. He prompted readers to take advantage of the scenic train route saying: ” There’s great value for money to be enjoyed here. For £13 (one way) you can literally travel through the heart of Wales and take in all that it has to offer.”
Describing the picturesque journey, he added: “By the time we get to Ffairfach we’re really into the rural nature of this journey, passing rivers and streams and fields filled with sheep. Soon the colourful row of terraced houses that were probably built just to be on a Llandeilo postcard sit high above a hill on my left.
“As we hurtle past Cynghordy and towards the wonderfully named stop of Sugar Loaf, a thousand trees line steep mountains that dovetail like something from the opening of a Roger Moore Bond film.
“If it wasn’t for the incessantly chatty Englishman two rows in front talking the ear off the poor sod next to him, I would swear we were in the Swiss Alps in summertime, as the sun breaks through the dip between mountains.
“As well as all the hills and the fields, this journey also takes me to some of the most picturesque and pretty little towns and villages in the country – surrounded by red bricks and tiles, country pubs, a glorious viaduct – and more or less directly into the quaint gardens of those who live along the line.
“It’s spectacular, like strolling through a human-sized model village. It’s a part of Wales I’m not familiar with; it’s a million miles from Cardiff and Swansea, from Llanelli and Carmarthen.
“By the time I get off at Craven Arms I feel like I’ve seen an honest advert for what Wales is: it’s gorgeous but you can never ever rely on the weather. I can’t wait to come on this train again. It’s well worth the £13, the time, and the lack of phone and internet signal. More than three hours of sitting down looking out of the window; more than three hours where my phone barely left my pocket. It’s wonderful.”
What did Lonely Planet say about the Heart of Wales line?
The Heart of Wales line has been lauded as one of the top 10 train rides in Europe by a renowned guide book, which described it as follows: “Expect a spectrum of scenery, alternating from the sand-edged estuaries of South Wales, via bucolic farming towns and tracts of forest and hill country you probably never knew existed, through to one of England’s prettiest medieval cities.”
Here’s the full rundown of Lonely Planet’s top 10 European train journeys:
1. Settle to Carlisle, England: 73 miles
2. Le Petit Train Jaune, France: 39 miles
3. Belgrade-to-Bar Railway, Serbia and Montenegro: 296 miles
4. The Bernina Express, Switzerland: 96 miles
5. The Heart of Wales Line, Wales and England: 121 miles
6. Munich to Venice on the Brenner Railway, Germany, Austria and Italy: 350 miles
7. The Kyle of Lochalsh Line, Scotland: 84 miles
8. Nova Gorica to Jesenice, Slovenia: 55 miles
9. The Centovalli Express, Switzerland and Italy: 32 miles
10. Bergensbanen, Norway: 308 miles