Last HST to pass the Pembrey semaphores

Another piece of railway history was written at 11.16 on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, when Network Rail “flying banana” test train 1Q16 became the last ever high speed train (HST) to pass the semaphores controlled by Pembrey Signal Box.

Just eight days before the box closes as part of the long-delayed Port Talbot West 2 (PTW2) re-signalling project, Colas Rail-operated power cars 43013/14 headed east towards Derby after their monthly tour of West Wales branches, and visits to Milford Haven, Fishguard Harbour and Pembroke Dock.

After dire weather conditions at Liskeard a couple of days earlier, it made a pleasant change to take the 15-minute walk from Pembrey & Burry Port station to a great vantage point east of the station in fine and partly sunny weather.

That spot on the Burry Port by-pass at what is called New Road Tunnel gives a fine but distant view looking back towards the station and signal box, along with three of the five semaphore signals controlled by the box – down home PY7, up inner home PY81 next to the box and down starter PY9 between the two running lines.

Having paid numerous visits to Pembrey since first calling here to get photos for my book “Britain’s last mechanical signalling” in February 2017 it was a somewhat sad day to reflect on the imminent loss of more semaphores, and yet another piece of our remarkable railway heritage.

What is interesting to note here about the PTW2 re-signalling project is how few new signals have been installed. In place of the current five semaphores there are just two new “lollipop” replacements, with one in the down direction close to PY7 and the other just beyond up outer home PY82 at the eastern end of platform one.

Pembrey’s rather grand looking 1907-vintage Great Western Railway signal box (pictured above) faces an uncertain future post-closure (on 30 October 2025), after local efforts to secure a Listing were turned down, unlike at nearby Ferryside, where the signal box there has the security of a Grade II Listing.

Apart from the Network Rail test train, all services passing during my 22 October visit comprised Transport for Wales Class 197 “Marvins” and GWR five-car Class 80x IET units, with no sign of any TfW Class 150/153 units this time, having still appeared on some services during my last visit to the area in early September.

Along with the three other signal boxes between Swansea and Carmarthen – Ferryside, Kidwelly and Carmarthen Junction – Pembrey will close after signalling its final train – scheduled to be 2E34 from Pembroke Dock to Swansea, which is due to pass at 23.54 on Thursday, 30 October.

There will then be a three-day closure of the route before re-opening on Monday, 3 October. This looks like a notable date for Network Rail, since it will also mark completion of another heavily-delayed re-signalling project on the Portsmouth Direct Line, with the loss there of the signal boxes at Farncombe, Haslemere and Petersfield.

Over the eight years I have been visiting Pembrey there have been a few changes in the passing traffic, as the Class 150/153 units gradually gave way to the Class 175 units, before they in turn were replaced by the Class 197s, but one constant on my visits has been the Portobello Inn, where the beer has remained good and cheap, as it was on 22 October, with my final pint there of Felinfoel Brewery Dragon’s Heart (4.5%/£2.60).