Further delay to what is known as the Port Talbot West 2 (PTW2) re-signalling project in West Wales means that the semaphore signals at Ferryside and at Pembrey & Burry Port will live on until at least the end of 2025, well beyond the last estimated date for completion of the re-signalling.
An update provided to railwayworld.net by Network Rail on 15 October 2024 confirms this latest delay, which it puts down to the geographic size of the project and difficulties in gaining access to the railway.
In its comment, the infrastructure owner states: “Network Rail is renewing old signalling equipment to improve journeys in and out of West Wales, making them more reliable, which we aim to be commissioned by the end of 2025.
“The project includes installing brand-new telecoms, power distribution and modern signalling systems. We need to work over a longer period of time due to the large area covered and the limited access points available to allow our workforce onto the railway.”
Visiting Pembrey & Burry Port on 10 May 2024 I had been struck by how a project that had been scheduled for implementation around that time was clearly a long way from completion, with no sign of any work taking place.
The only evidence of work completed was a secure compound opposite the signal box and new equipment and a yellow fence installed at the eastern end of the up platform. On that occasion a group of contractors told me a date of June 2025 had just been agreed.
So for those yet to savour the charms of Burry Port – Pembrey is some distance from the station – there is time left to see and photograph the station area and the five lower quadrant signals controlled by the substantial signal box, which stands some 300 yards east of the station platforms.
As I have written before, and can be seen in these photos taken on 17 October 2024, there are a trio of semaphores in the down (westbound) direction, comprising home signal PY7 on a bracket east of the level crossing, starter PY9 standing between the two running lines and section signal PY10 around 200 yards west of the station.
The two up signals are an outer home PY82, standing at the end of platform 1 close to the new signalling equipment and inner home PY81, close to the signal box and protecting the level crossing.
Passenger services passing through Pembrey & Burry Port currently comprise 5-car GWR Class 80x IET units on Carmarthen-Paddington workings and TfW Class 197 “Marvins” on virtually all the other services, with only the very occasional appearance of Class 153 units on services between Swansea and Pembroke Dock.
There were no Class 153 appearances at all on the day of my latest visit, but one bonus working was a Colas Rail track machine passing through the station at 13.05 with 6J81, a civil engineer movement from Carmarthen to Cardiff Canton via Fishguard Harbour, as seen below.
When it is finally completed, PTW2 will see control of the route from Swansea West Loop (215m 14ch) to Whitland (250m 0ch) pass initially to the signalling centre at Port Talbot, with closure of the signal boxes at Pembrey, Kidwelly, Ferryside and Carmarthen Junction.
Unlike Ferryside, which enjoys a Grade II Listing, the former Pembrey East Signal Box does not currently seem to have a future once the re-signalling project is completed. When a local heritage group submitted a request regarding the Pembrey box in 2018 it was rebuffed by Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service.
In its response, Cadw stated: “We have assessed the building against the criteria again in light of the information you provided on the historical importance of the box, but this is not enough to overcome its overall lack of architectural interest.
“Our approach is been to select the best examples of particular types of signal box and to list these. We have listed a GWR type 7(a) at Llangollen and other GWR examples at Llanelli and Pantyffynnon. The example of Burry Port has been judged to be not of the required standard when compared to these boxes.”
The two best places to photograph the semaphores and passing trains at Burry Port are a footbridge just east of the railway station and by taking a 20 minute walk down to the signal box and over the level crossing then heading to a bridge on the town’s by-pass called New Road Tunnel (228m 40ch).
But no visit to Burry Port would be complete without a call at the rather noisy and popular Portobello Inn, right outside the station, which still seems untouched by inflationary pressures and where I once again savoured a fine pint of Felinfoel Brewery’s Double Dragon for a mere £2.50.
RailwayWorld.net 
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