Last days of the South Wales semaphores

150267 approaches Ferryside on 11 September with 2B52 from Pembroke Dock (07.07) to Cardiff

Only weeks remain before another outpost of lower quadrant semaphore signalling is consigned to railway history, when much-delayed re-signalling of the main line between Swansea and Carmarthen spells closure for four signal boxes and with it the loss of mechanical signalling at Pembrey & Burry Port and at Ferryside.

Paying what could well be my last visit to the area (on 10/11 September 2025) before the new signalling is commissioned on 3 November, my aim was to capture for one last time trains passing the handful of semaphores at both locations, hopefully including one of the route’s only scheduled freight workings, the oil tanks to and from Robeston Sidings, near Milford Haven.

Continue reading “Last days of the South Wales semaphores”

Branch line revival in SW France

Alstom Régiolis bi-mode unit 83523 approaches the former Saléchan station on 2 September 2025 with the 09.36 Luchon-Montréjeau service

After all the sadness at Felletin, proof that rural railways in France can be revived comes when I travel from the now rail-less town to Limoges by bus, then head south by rail via Toulouse to a place south-west of Toulouse called Montréjeau-Gourdan-Polignan to sample a 36km (22½-mile) branch line to a ski resort called Luchon that re-opened to passengers on 22 June 2025, after being closed since November 2014.

The Occitanie région of France seems to have a rather different approach to rural railways to that prevailing in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and this eagerly-awaited re-opening, after a total investment of €67 million, is planned to be the first of a number of railway revivals across this part of southern France.

Continue reading “Branch line revival in SW France”