Lampeter - Transport

Transport

Transport in Lampeter was greatly improved with the opening of the railway in 1866 which linked the town to both Carmarthen and Aberystwyth, as well as the seaside resort of Aberaeron (although this branch was only opened in 1911). After the nationalisation of the railways, the passenger service to Aberaeron ceased in 1951. Passenger trains on the main line to Carmarthen and Aberystwyth continued until December 1964, when the track was badly damaged by flooding south of Aberystwyth and through trains were suspended. A service between Carmarthen and Tregaron continued until February 1965 but this was the era of the "Beeching Axe" and it took little political persuasion to decide that the cost of repairs would be unjustified and all remaining passenger services were withdrawn. Milk trains continued to the processing factories at Pont Llanio until 1970 and Felinfach until 1973. The line was eventually lifted in 1975. However, the section of the old line between Bronwydd Arms and Danycoed Halt still exists and is used by the Gwili Railway, a steam railway preservation society which operates a regular timetable during summer months. Local residents have been campaigning for the return of the railway to Lampeter but much of the trackbed to Carmarthen has been given over to other developments over several decades; bridges etc. have been dismantled and the cost would be prohibitive given the relatively small populations the line would serve.

Regular bus services operate through the town, connecting Lampeter to the larger towns of Aberystwyth, Carmarthen and Swansea. Two buses a day continue beyond Swansea providing a through service to Cardiff. The local bus services are a lifeline to many people of the town, especially students of the town's university.