Hopes for new railway station in next four years

THERE is hope a new railway station could be open in St Clears within the next four years.

Providing Westminster agrees to a funding plea by the Welsh Government the station could see its first customers in 2024.

Plaid Cymru Mid and West MS Helen Mary Jones, Shadow Minister for transport, economy and tackling poverty, said: “Plaid Cymru has been calling for a new station for many years now. I would like to congratulate the campaigners for highlighting the importance of reopening a station in St Clears and for maintaining the case for a rail link between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth. These are vital issues for rail port in the west.”

The railway station closed in 1964 and there was an attempt to reopen it in 1973 but plans were abandoned.

A public meeting earlier this year saw huge support for a station returning to the town.

Plaid member Dr Rhys Thomas added: “Since the railway station was closed a boom in house building means that the population of St Clears has grown to well over 3,000.

“Hundreds of people commute daily on the busy A40 to Carmarthen transor Pembrokeshire. Reopening the railway station would take a lot of traffic off the road, to the benefit of the environment.”

The Welsh Government has identified four new railway stations it is looking to deliver with backing from Westminster.

Economy and Transport Minister Ken Skates has written to UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, seeking financial backing towards the cost of the stations identified by Transport for Wales.

Together, the projects have a projected cost, excluding VAT, of £46 million. Along with St Clears at a cost of £6.33 million, the other stations are Deeside Parkway, on the Borderlands Line in north Wales at a cost of £22.56 million, Carno, on the Cambrian Mainline in mid Wales at £7.53 million and Ely Mill on the City Line in Cardiff at £6.33 million.

Due to the large number of expected bids and the relatively small funding pot, it is very unlikely all four station projects will get backing.

However, Wales has secured backing from the previous two New Station Funds, with Bow Street Station in Ceredigion and Pye Corner in Newport.

The winning station bids will be revealed in the autumn with the aim to be open to passengers in March 2024.