Well, almost. The twice daily service to Aberthaw has now ceased as have services from Cwmbargoed. Aberthaw has been severely criticised for emissions (
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-37407037) and I suspect this is one of the main reasons that Welsh coal is no longer being burned there. Instead, imported emissions complaint coal (which is taxed) from Avonmouth (and Portbury?) is now supplying the power station. In addition, as of 2017, Aberthaw has been downgraded and will only generate electricity as and when needed. Consequently, coal shipped into Aberthaw has been severely cut back. I also suspect (but cannot verify) that the coal reserves at Tower Colliery (in the upper levels mined by open pit) are now near depletion, so another reason why Tower has stopped supplying.
This will obviously impact on the little coal that is still mined in South Wales and of course on the railways. Unfortunately, and coming from a geological background, I suspect this is the “nail in the coffin” for Welsh coal mining. At least Cwmbargoed still supplies Port Talbot (Margam) for the time being but one wonders if that will be enough to sustain the profitability of the pit and how long the contract will last. There was at least one train a week to Hope (Earl’s sidings) from Cwmbargoed for the cement industry but it appears that this is now being supplied from Tower Colliery (once a week) but only until May 2017. One wonders if Cwmbargoed will continue with the service afterwards. Onllwyn stopped supplying Aberthaw in 2016.
In the rain, 66116 on the 6C47, passes through Pontypridd station en-route to Newport ADJ and then later to Hope in Derbyshire.
