Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway – 10 October 1867
The Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway was absorbed by the Cambrian Railways which, with the other companies, was absorbed into the GWR. The line was double track from Ruabon to Llangollen Goods Junction. Beyond, there were passing places at Deeside, Glyndyfrdwy, Carrog, Corwen, Llandrillo, Llandderfel, Bala Junction, Llanuwchllyn, Garneddwen Halt, Drws-y-Nant, Bont Newydd, Dolgellau and Penmaenpool.
Closure
The whole line was officially closed to passenger trains as part of the Beeching Axe on 18 January 1965. Goods services between Morfa Mawddach and Llangollen ceased in 1964. Although the whole line was planned to close for passenger services on 18 January 1965, services were suspended on 12 December 1964 following flooding. The section between Ruabon and Llangollen was subsequently reopened on 17 December for passenger trains until 18 January after which only freight services ran until 1968 when the line was closed completely. The section between Llangollen and Bala Junction was abandoned following flooding although a substitute bus service served the stations until 18 January 1965. The section between Bala, Bala Junction and Dolgellau was reopened on 17 December and the section Dolgellau to Morfa Mawddach reopened on 14 December. Lifting of the track was completed in 1969.
Current status
Two sections of the line have been reopened as preserved railways; the narrow gauge Bala Lake Railway in 1972; and the standard gaugeLlangollen Railway which first opened to passengers in 1981. A section between Barmouth Junction and Dolgellau is used as the Mawddach Trail, a cycle route and bridleway, conversion of which was assisted in 1976 when heavy floods washed away most of the remaining ballast. Several sections have been used for road improvement schemes, including a section through Dolgellau, and the station site and trackbed west of. The trackbed has also been redeveloped at the west end of Corwen and a number of houses and apartments have been built immediately east of Llangollen. Infringements occur between Llangollen and Acrefair and the cutting through Cefn Mawr is partially blocked following land slips. At the end of Llanuwchllyn station, a house straddles the trackbed. In the countryside between these sites the trackbed remains disused although some sections are used for grazing cattle.
