A Scenic Train Ride through the Welsh Countryside
Swansea on the South Coast of Wales is only a one hour train ride from Cardiff, with the ticket costing a little over seven dollars. The two and a half hour stop over there allowed me to get out and explore this interesting seaside city before getting back onboard the train for the scenic ride through the heart of Wales. I had read about the beautiful journey between Swansea and Shrewsbury (just back across the border into England) and it was with great anticipation that I returned to the station after walking around Swansea. The train had already pulled in by the time I got back and a friendly lady who I recognized to be the conductor was standing on the platform. I asked her if she had any suggestions as to which side I should sit on to get the best view of the scenery and was surprised when she offered her recommendations for each leg of the trip.
Quaint Villages and Lots of Sheep
When the conductor saw me checking out the train, she asked, “You’re not a train buff, by any chance, are you?” When I eagerly replied that I was, she added, “Oh, then you’re really going to enjoy this ride!” We chatted for a few moments until a young man emerged from the train who she introduced as the engineer. They both proceeded to explain that this was going to be a beautiful ride heading north through the Welsh countryside and that we’d see lots of sheep-studded farms, green hillsides and quaint little villages along the way…so quaint that the conductor would have to get out and manually throw the switch to lower the traffic barrier.
A Historic Train System
Because it was not a heavily traveled route, there would be stretches where there was only one track for trains going each way. The engineer and conductor explained how they would have to stop and manually insert a set of keys into an antiquated set of locks to insure that no other trains came in the other direction while we were on the track. The conductor said she would let me know when the time came and I could come along with them and see how it was done.
Tagging Along with the Engineer and Conductor
Well, as you can imagine, I was in hog heaven for the entire four hour ride, between watching the breathtakingly beautiful scenery passing by outside my window and getting out several times with the engineer and conductor to watch them do their thing! They were so friendly and nice and seemed to enjoy having a passenger who was interested in the operation of the trains. These folks were typical of the entire cadre of train personnel who I encountered on my trip throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. To a person, they were friendly and helpful and went out of their way to insure that their passengers were safe, comfortable and got the correct ticket at the best price. If you like trains and train travel, be sure to watch the video below. Once you see the beautiful country scenery you’ll want to add this train ride (costing only $23) from Swansea, Wales to Shrewsbury, England to your itinerary!
