Aberystwyth Council

ABERYSTWYTH WELCOMES RAILWAY LINES PROPOSAL

Aberystwyth Council hosted a meeting with about a hundred people in the Morlan, Aberystwyth, almost all in favour of reopening the Aberystwyth –Carmarthen train line.  In association with Traws Link Cymru, the Council was eager to hear the views of members of the public in order to gauge public support for the development.

The campaign has already attracted support from Network Rail, 24 Assembly Members, 48 county councillors, 35 community councils (including Aberystwyth Town Council) and the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones.

During the meeting, support was provided by Plaid Cymru, Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Members of the public were also very supportive, raising questions regarding the impact on access to health facilities, investment, recruitment (ability to recruit medical professionals), reducing road congestion, creating construction jobs in the construction phase and encouraging tourism.

Less than 3% of the 56km of previous rail track has been built upon, and the group are keen to demonstrate that restoring the railway is still achievable with a few re-alignments in order to create an up-to-date railway infrastructure suitable for the modern integrated transport needs of Wales. It would form the main part of a plan to link North and South Wales by subsequently restoring the link between Pwllheli and Bangor that formerly ran via the Afon Wen line through Snowdonia.

The meeting was welcomed by the Mayor and chaired by Councillor Alun Williams, Ceredigion Council's Cabinet Member for Transport.

Aberystwyth Town Council is keen for everybody interested in the campaign to sign the petition on:

http://www.trawslinkcymru.org.uk/