• Funding awarded to develop railway

The Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway are pleased to announce that they have been awarded grant funding towards further developing the railway and its site at Cynheidre near Llanelli. The grants comprise £40,000 (forty thousand pounds) from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund and £20,000 (twenty thousand pounds) from Carmarthenshire County Council Targeted Finance fund. 

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant will be used for the development of a Community Hub at Cynheidre including cafe facilities.  This will incorporate the body shell of a single car ‘Sprinter’ unit giving it a unique railway feel. The much needed provision of a mains electricity supply for the site also forms part of this project.   

The Carmarthenshire County Council Targeted Finance Fund grant will further support the provision of electricity to the site and the development of a cafe for visitors and the local community whilst also facilitating the creation of two job opportunities at the railway. 

Mark Thomas, Chairman of the 100% volunteer run charity commented ‘we are very pleased to have received these grants which will enable us to further develop the site at Cynheidre as a first class visitor attraction and community space, whilst also providing two much needed job opportunities.  We would like to thank the funding bodies for their support’. 

A start has already been made on the project with trenches dug and ducting installed for the electricity supply.  It is anticipated that the National Grid will make the connection in early summer 2024, although it will then need to distributed around the site.    The cafe project has gone through pre-planning and awaits final consent.  It is anticipated that this facility will be available by late this year or early 2025.  

The railway is a charity run totally by volunteers.  It is hoping to grow into a major tourist attraction for the Llanelli district and in order to reach our goals we need more volunteer help in all departments including operational, maintenance and restoration, and administration. If you could spare a few hours for what is a most enjoyable pastime and worthwhile cause do not hesitate to get in touch.  For more information or to volunteer please visit our website at https://www.llanellirailway.co.uk or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/llanellirailway