From Swansea To Ludlow
There is a direct train, but I preferred to take the scenic route via the Heart of Wales Line with a change at Craven Arms station.
It certainly is a good alternative, even if like I did, you have an extra change of trains at Llandrindod.
From Carmarthen To Pembroke
From Carmarthen stastion I went on to Pembroke station before returning on a train an hour later, taking these pictures.
Pembroke and Tenby are certainly worth a visit and you could probably arrange the journeys, so that you did it all using one return ticket breaking the journey at Tenby one way.
The conductor suggested I do it, so if you’re uncertain if it’s possible, ask them.
Changing Trains At Carmarthen Station
Carmarthen station is on a spur from the West Wales Line from a triangular junction.
This Google Map shows the station and the junction.
Carmarthen Station
My train from Swansea arrived in the station and I crossed the tracks to the other platform to get my onward train to Pembroke.
These are some pictures of the station.
There aren’t many stations, where passengers are allowed to cross the lines.
This Google Map shows the station layout in detail.
Carmarthen Station Layout
It is a good example of how a reversing siding works.
Note in the larger map, the railway crosses over the River Towy, as it goes to the West.
There is a lifting bridge over the river called Carmarthen Bridge.
This web page on Movable Bridges, describes the bridge and has a picture.
The bridge was built in 1911 and hasn’t worked since about 1956.
Old Uncle Tom Cobley And All Financing
This article from Railway Gazette is entitled Pension funds back Abellio East Anglia order for Stadler trainsets.
These details of the trains are given.
Stadler’s first major order for UK main line passenger rolling stock covers 58 Flirt UK trainsets to be built in Switzerland. There will be 10 12-car 25 kV 50 Hz inter-city EMUs for London – Norwich services with 628 standard and 80 first class seats plus a bistro, and 10 12-car EMUs for the London – Stansted Airport route with 710 standard class only seats. The 24 four-car and 14 three-car electro-diesel units for standard class only regional services will have the diesel engines in a mid-train power module car.
But the most interesting part of the article is about the financing of the trains.
Funding is being led by Rock Rail and SL Capital Partners, with additional co-investment equity provided by the GLIL infrastructure investment joint venture of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund and London Pensions Fund Authority. Debt was arranged by DC Advisory from Aviva, Sun Life, Barings Asset Management, Legal & General, Standard Life Investments and the European Investment Bank, which is providing a 28-year £60m loan using its European Fund for Strategic Investments guarantee for the first time in the UK.
A large number of reputable names seem to have their signatures on the deal.
I notice that the European Inveestment Bank is there, so they can’t be too bothered about Brexit.
The Anonymous Widower 