page_title: Merthyr line
section_title: Extension to Hirwaun
hierarchical_section_title: Merthyr line / Extension to Hirwaun
caption_attribution_description: English: Coal from the Tower Mine heads away towards Aberdare. Its very overgrown on the Tower Branch now as a coal train heads towards Aberdare with coal from Tower the last deep mine in South Wales. Since this picture was taken coal production has ceased at Tower. The railway line from Aberdare to Tower is freight only no passenger services use it.
context_page_description: The Merthyr line is a commuter railway line in South Wales from central Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. The line is part of the Cardiff urban rail network, known as the Valley Lines.
context_section_description: Since its termination at Aberdare following the Beeching Axe, there have been various proposals to extend the line northwards towards Hirwaun again. In recent years, these have been driven by the Welsh Assembly Government.
  In 2006, a study by local transport alliance Sewta appeared to rule out any such extension for the foreseeable future.
  In November 2009, WAG sponsored Network Rail in a feasibility study to reopening both the section to Hirwaun, and parts of the former Anglesey Central Railway between Llangefni on Anglesey, and Bangor. Network Rail has already begun work on gathering evidence for its study, beginning with cutting away vegetation on track sections to examine the condition of rails and track bedding. Its report was expected to be published in early 2010, before any business case to reopen the lines can be developed.
  It was announced in March 2011 that the Welsh Assembly Government's 2011–12 capital programme would include the re-opening of the line to Hirwaun as part of the Cynon Valley Scheme. There is currently no information on when the work will commence and when the line will re-open.
caption: EWS Class 66 moves coal from Tower Colliery towards Aberdare, 2006
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