Plan to dig out and re-open Wales' longest railway tunnel at Blaencwm

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Plan to dig out and re-open Wales' longest railway tunnel


The Blaencwm tunnel before it was filled in. Plans are being made to turn the tunnel into a tourist attraction

The longest railway tunnel in Wales could be dug out and re-opened to become a tourist attraction.

The Blaencwm tunnel was buried during the Beeching cutbacks of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) railway network in the 1960s which led to the closure of thousands of train stations.

Volunteers are now drawing up plans to try to re-open the 3,300 yards (3017m) tunnel in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

They hope to receive funding to excavate the tunnel to attract tourists and create a cycle trail.

[JayMac]

According to Wikipedia and nwrail.org.uk, the longest tunnel wholly in Wales is the open and operational Ffestiniog Tunnel on the Conwy Valley Line. 3407m (3726yds).

Perhaps this article should have said, "Wales' longest closed railway tunnel..."

Come on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page). You do know how to do research don't you? Wikipedia makes it easy. And then you just need one other source for verification.

EDIT: Hoist by my own petard.  The figures I found for Ffestiniog Tunnel appear to be wrong. Although it's still the longest railway tunnel in Wales. Network Rail's Sectional Appendix that covers the Conwy Valley Line has Ffestiniog Tunnel at 3522m (3853yds).

Link to relevant page from the Sectional Appendix

[stuving]

It gets worse. In Forgotten Relics the Rhondda Tunnel (which must be the same one despite the name) is carefully described as "the longest disused tunnel in Wales at 3,443 yards". There are pictures too - suggesting that reopening and making safe for public access could be quite a task.

[chrisr_75]

According to Wikipedia and nwrail.org.uk, the longest tunnel wholly in Wales is the open and operational Ffestiniog Tunnel on the Conwy Valley Line. 3407m (3726yds).

Perhaps this article should have said, "Wales' longest closed railway tunnel..."

Come on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page). You do know how to do research don't you? Wikipedia makes it easy. And then you just need one other source for verification.

EDIT: Hoist by my own petard.  The figures I found for Ffestiniog Tunnel appear to be wrong. Although it's still the longest railway tunnel in Wales. Network Rail's Sectional Appendix that covers the Conwy Valley Line has Ffestiniog Tunnel at 3522m (3853yds).

Link to relevant page from the Sectional Appendix

I thought the Ffestiniog tunnel was the longest when I read the article, but I didn't get round to looking it up. Thanks for doing that for me! 

[eightf48544]

I thought one of the reasons given for closing the R&SBR was the state of the tunnel due to mining susidence so reinstatement might well be expensive.

There is a story which says that the impending closure of the tunnel bought about the earlier  than planned wedding of a couple who lived either side and used the train service to meet.   

It was a usefull link from the top of the Rhondda Valley to Port Talbot, Neath and Swansea. Now if you want  to go all the way by train from Treherbert to Swansea you have to go via Cardiff.

This line also saw one of last head on collisions on BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)), before Cowden and Ladbroke Grove, at Pontrhydyfen on  24th November 1960

http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=1151.

[John R]

Yes, the tunnel was closed because it had become unsafe. According to "Passengers No More" the line between Cymmer Afan and Treherbert was closed in Dec 68, with the replacement buses withdrawn in Dec 70. However, the Western Region timetable for 69/70 doesn't acknowledge this and shows a service every two hours between Treherbert and Bridgend. These took 29 mins to cover the 9 miles to Maesteg, and served the top 3 miles of the Llynfi Valley.

How much of the trackbed above Maesteg still exists I do not know, but a rail reinstatement would appear to be of more use if the tunnel is able to be reopened, in terms of improving connectivity.  Although if it were unsafe in 68, I suspect the deterioration over the last 46 years is likely to make it an expense beyond even the Welsh Government's appetite for rail improvements.

[anthony215]

A direct service north of Maesteg to Treherbert would be ideal especially if it formed a circular route linking,Treherbert, Maesteg, Bridgend, Barry, Cardiff and Pontypridd.

Certainly I did read somewhere a while back on another forum that such as idea was suggested as a way to keep the vale of Glamorgan line etc open.

[John R]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-40654763

Good news for those interested in seeing the Rhondda Tunnel reopened.  If it were to be reopened as a walking route/cycleway then it would be great to extend the Rhondda branch the short distance back to Blaenrhondda close to the portal.  As far as I am aware the trackbed is still clear, and it would help promote the tunnel.  Still, I think we are a few years away from that yet.

[grahame]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-40654763

Good news for those interested in seeing the Rhondda Tunnel reopened.  If it were to be reopened as a walking route/cycleway then it would be great to extend the Rhondda branch the short distance back to Blaenrhondda close to the portal.  As far as I am aware the trackbed is still clear, and it would help promote the tunnel.  Still, I think we are a few years away from that yet.

Good news ... some inaccurate reporting though ...

The tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in Wales, was filled in after cuts to the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail network in the 1960s

Err - no, not the longest, and not filled in - just blocked at the ends!

[Tim]

not filled in - just blocked at the ends!

I take your point, but if there have been collapses then maybe some of it is now filled in. 

[Rob on the hill]

By filled in I think it means the cuttings leading up to the tunnel entrances. Looking at satellite photos there is no obvious sign of them. For Facebook users they have recent news/photos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rhonddatunnelsociety/