Amman Valley Railway

The project was originally based on a heritage railway proposal on a lines that formerly served the various collieries of the area north of Swansea and Llanelli.

AVRS (Amman Valley Railway Society) was formed in 1992 with 84 founder members, became a registered charity in 2004, incorporated in 2006 and grew to become a Social Enterprise Company in 2008, after opening shops in Brynamman, Ammanford, Pontardawe and in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen.

Here the railway branched, with the Amman Valley developed for commercial purposes to transport extracted coal to North Dock, Llanelli.

The line was closed to passenger services by British Railways on 18 August 1958, ahead of the Beeching Axe, although it did stay open as a freight route until the closure of the Abernant Colliery super pit in 1988.

The Society once owned three tank wagons (from the Swansea Vale Railway) at Cwmgors which were gradually being refurbished ready for use on the heritage line section.