In March 1963 the Beeching Report, "a collection of ideas for discussion" was presented to the then Government in Westminster. This report heralded a new age of railway line and station closures across the UK in an age when rail was perceived to be in the decline due to the development of motorways, better roads, and improved cars, buses, coaches and goods' vehicles at a time when 'green' and sustainability weren't associated with transportation.

50 years on, the effects of the report are still being felt in Wales. Whilst the main east-west rail artery between Aberystwyth and the midlands is still there, other lines such as between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen which today would be major economic transport, have long gone. In addition, the line connecting Trawsfynydd to Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Conwy Valley line - although still there – does nothing more than provide a potential rail link between the decommissioned power station in the event of a containment failure and a future option for the transport of nuclear waste as part of the decommissioning process.

TraCC (Trafnidiaeth Canolbarth Cymru – the mid Wales Transport Consortium) is keen to support the re-invigoration of rail travel in Wales. TraCC firmly believes that maintaining and improving any existing rail links, and even looking at the feasibility of re-introducing and re-developing closed (or 'mothballed') railways should be a key part of the Welsh Government's transport aspirations for Wales.

Mid Wales has a 2-hourly rail service linking 4 major towns in Ceredigion and Powys with Shropshire and the West Midlands. There is a real argument for this to be made into an hourly service, and this continues to be one of our top transport priorities for the east-west artery. Also, the Cambrian Coast line links in to the Cambrian Main line and travels through Gwynedd along a major tourist destination in a region that relies on tourism to maintain the economy.

There is also a Network Rail 'mothballed' line linking Trawsfynydd with Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Conwy Valley Line. It is believed that relatively little infrastructure work would be needed there to re-open that line and provide a much needed rail link to the North Wales Coast, Cheshire and Merseyside. There are only four trains each way running on the Heart of Wales Line that links the busy railheads of Shrewsbury and Swansea and provides a lifeline for people living in the deeply rural communities of central Powys and northern Carmarthenshire.

As for the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen rail link, TraCC considers that we have to learn from the mistakes made by selling off parts of the line. If it were feasible, re-opening that line would create a much needed rail link connecting Aberystwyth by rail to Pembrokeshire, Swansea and Cardiff. A feasibility study would be welcomed.

Chris Wilson, TraCC Co-ordinator said: "Ultimately, we have to acknowledge that the increased costs of running a car, improvements to our existing rail infrastructure and rail stock, and more awareness of sustainable travel is making our rail network more important than it has been since before the days of Beeching. Good connections between our major towns are a key part of our economy and without them there is always the danger that we lose out on important business opportunities to those towns that are better connected."

TraCC is currently involved in a number of schemes designed to improve, enhance and develop transport links within mid Wales. These range from pursuing schemes to re-open 2 stations at Bow Street and Carno, improving access to cycle paths, bus interchanges, railway stations, and also conducting travel surveys with employers and promoting the use of travel plans designed to reduce reliance on individual car journeys.

County Councillor Barry Thomas, Chair of TraCC added: "50 years ago Lord Beeching, with his report, inadvertently swung a scythe through our rail network in mid Wales. It’s time to re-sow the seeds so that we are prepared for the next 50 years and more."