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Private company

Mid-Wales Railway

Railway system

The Mid-Wales Railway was conceived as a trunk route through Wales connecting industrial areas in North West England with sea ports in South West Wales. The company was prevented from reaching its goal by competing proposals in Parliament, and it was only able to build a line between Llanidloes and a junction with the Brecon and Merthyr Railway 5 miles (8 km) east of Brecon. The line was 70 miles (110 km) long and opened in 1864.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1859Founded1

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Photo: Afterbrunel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

The Mid-Wales Railway was conceived as a trunk route through Wales connecting industrial areas in North West England with sea ports in South West Wales. The company was prevented from reaching its goal by competing proposals in Parliament, and it was only able to build a line between Llanidloes and a junction with the Brecon and Merthyr Railway 5 miles (8 km) east of Brecon. The line was 70 miles (110 km) long and opened in 1864. The company found it impossible to raise the money by issuing shares, but the contractor partnership of Davies and Savin agreed to build the line and take shares in payment.2

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Train services

During its independent days the Mid-Wales Railway did not alter its basic passenger train service from three trains per day each way down the whole line. There were in addition short workings from Builth Wells, and sometimes other stations south, to Llechryd to make connection with the Central Wales line trains. The early timetables of the Mid-Wales Railway showed Dowlais (and Merthyr when opened) as if they were its own stations; in fact all stations from Talyllyn to Dowlais Top and Merthyr were listed.

All regular passenger train crossings on the single line were at Builth Wells or Three Cocks. In 1874 a service was begun of three trains a week from Llanidloes to Neath; a Mid-Wales engine worked through to Neath. From 1880 in summertime through carriages were run from Cardiff over the Rhymney Railway via Bargoed and on over the B&MR to Talyllyn Junction, then over the Mid-Wales and Cambrian Railways to Aberystwyth. Mid-Wales carriages were also kept at Cardiff Queen Street and Newport High Street stations. Much of this traffic went through to Cambrian Railway resorts, but some was for Llandrindod Wells, and this was handled by arranging connecting trains at Llechryd, with the Central Wales line of the LNWR.

At about this time the connection at Builth Road with the Central Wales line was altered to take passenger traffic, but it seems that passenger trains did not operate for some time. From the tourism point of view, its only value would have been to put Builth Wells on a direct service with the other "Wells" towns, Llandrindod, Llanwrtyd and Llangamarch, but this would have required a double reverse at Builth Road. In fact shuttle trains operated and passengers changed at the junction.

Locations

Llanidloes; opened 2 September 1859; relocated by January 1862; closed 31 December 1962; station joint between Llanidloes and Newtown Railway, Mid-Wales Railway, and Manchester and Milford Railway; line to Penpontbren Junction owned by the L&NR;

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Penpontbren Junction; divergence of Manchester and Milford Railway branch; start of Mid-Wales Railway;

Tylwch; opened 21 September 1864; closed 31 December 1962;

Glan-yr-Afon Halt; opened 16 January 1928; closed 31 December 1962;

Pantydwr; opened 21 September 1864; closed 31 December 1962;

St Harmons; opened June 1872; closed 31 December 1962;

Marteg Tunnel; 372 yards (340 m);

Marteg Halt; opened 18 May 1931; closed 31 December 1962;

Rhayader Tunnel; 270 yards (250 m);

Rhayader; opened 21 September 1864; closed 31 December 1962;

Elan Valley Junction; for Elan Valley Reservoir construction;

Doldowlod; opened 21 September 1864; closed 31 December 1962;

Newbridge-on-Wye; opened 21 September 1864; closed 31 December 1962;

Builth Road Low Level Junction; divergence of connecting spur to Central Wales Extension line;

Builth Road Junction; opened 1 November 1866; variously known as Central Wales Junction; then Llechryd; then Builth Road from 1 May 1889; renamed Builth Road Low Level 1950; closed 31 December 1962;

Builth; opened 21 September 1864; renamed Builth Wells 1865; closed 31 December 1962;

Llanfaredd Halt; opened 7 May 1934; closed 31 December 1962;

Aberedw; opened November 1867; closed 31 December 1962;

Tir Celyn Platform; unadvertised private station to serve one local house; opened in 1872; closed in 1950;

Erwood; opened 21 September 1864; closed 31 December 1962;

Llanstephan Halt; opened 6 March 1933; closed 31 December 1962;

Boughrood; opened 21 September 1864; renamed Boughrood and Llyswen 1 October 1912; closed 31 December 1962;

Three Cocks Junction; opened 19 September 1864; closed 31 December 1962; convergence of Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway;

Talgarth; opened 19 September 1864; closed 31 December 1962;

Trefeinon; opened October 1864; closed 31 December 1962;

Llangorse Lake Halt; opened 9 July 1923; closed 31 December 1962;

Talyllyn North Junction;

end of MWR and start of Brecon and Merthyr Railway;

Talyllyn West Junction;

Talyllyn Junction; opened 21 September 1864; closed 31 December 1962; line on to Brecon.

From Wikipedia’s article on Mid-Wales Railway, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 1859Founded Founded1

Sources

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