Railline › Heart of Wales Line: Craven Arms to Llanelli
Heart of Wales Line: Craven Arms to Llanelli
The Heart of Wales Line is a 90-mile rural railway through mid Wales, serving spa towns and crossing two big viaducts, and it survived the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.
Route and stations
The line runs 90 miles (about 145 km) from Craven Arms in Shropshire to Llanelli, with 29 stations. It serves the spa towns of Llandrindod Wells, Llangammarch Wells and Llanwrtyd Wells, and trains continue through Llandovery to Swansea. Off-peak, there are around six trains a day towards Shrewsbury and five to Swansea.
Operator
Operator (checked November 2026): Transport for Wales runs the line, using Class 150 and Class 153 diesel units.
History
The northern section opened in stages between 1861 and 1868 by companies backed by the London and North Western Railway, which absorbed the line in 1868. The 1963 Beeching Report proposed closing the whole line. The Ministry of Transport refused, except for Pontarddulais to Swansea Victoria, because the line carried freight to industrial areas and the Bynea steelworks.
Engineering
- Knucklas Viaduct: 193 yards (176 m) long, with castellated turrets at each end.
- Cynghordy Viaduct: crosses the Afon Bran valley, 283 yards (259 m) long.
- Sugar Loaf summit: 820 feet (250 m) above sea level, with gradients as steep as 1 in 60.
Scenery
Hills, small farms, woods and rivers; there are few big towns. Walkers use the stations for the Heart of Wales Line Trail, which follows the railway on foot. Because services are so few, plan any day trip around the timetable and check the last train home.
Compare
The Cambrian Line to the north is busier and reaches the coast. The scenic lines page compares all of them.
Good to know
With so few trains, a day trip needs planning. Many people travel one way by train and walk part of the Heart of Wales Line Trail. Spa towns such as Llandrindod Wells are good places to break the journey. The line survives because it is still used by freight and by local passengers, and the 1963 decision to keep it is a reminder that closure proposals were not always carried out. Check opening times of any cafes or attractions before you travel.
Key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 90 miles |
| Stations | 29 |
| Opened | 1861 to 1868 (northern section) |
| Steepest gradient | 1 in 60 near Sugar Loaf |
| Operator | Transport for Wales |
The Sugar Loaf summit is only the first of two major summits on the line, so even the gentle-looking Welsh countryside needs a proper climb for a diesel train.
The track, stations and signalling are owned and managed by Network Rail. For live times, fares and engineering works, use National Rail Enquiries or the operator's website.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Heart of Wales Line?
90 miles (about 145 km) from Craven Arms to Llanelli, with 29 stations.
Did Beeching close it?
No. The 1963 report proposed closure but the Ministry of Transport refused, partly because of freight to the Bynea steelworks.
How often do trains run?
Off-peak about six a day to Shrewsbury and five to Swansea, per Wikipedia. Check the current timetable.