Transport
Apart from the early drover’s paths, transport links from Merthyr Tydfil
to the coast have nestled together closely following the line of the River
Taff along the valley bottom. The Glamorgan Canal from Merthyr to Cardiff
was completed in 1798 and the Merthyr or Penydarren Tramroad (along the
route now largely followed by the Trevithick Trail) was completed in 1802
with the trains of wagons loaded with iron hauled by horses.
The first railway to be constructed was Brunel’s Taff Vale Railway built
mainly to the east of the river reached Merthyr Tydfil in 1841 and still
remains in use today. A second line mainly to the west of the river was
built jointly by the GWR and Rhymney Railway companies and was opened in
1886 but closed in 1951 to passengers and entirely in 1954. The first main road from Merthyr to Cardiff also ran along the valley
bottom through Troedyrhiw and Merthyr Vale. The section of the present A470
dual carriageway from Merthyr to Abercynon was constructed to a large extent
along the route of the Glamorgan Canal and the former GWR/Rhymney Railway
line.
As a result, access to the Trevithick Trail by public transport is very
easy with almost adjacent access from the railway stations at Edwardsville
(Quakers Yard) and Merthyr Vale and access within a couple of hundred yards
from Abercynon, Troedyrhiw, Pentrebach and Merthyr Stations. Bus services
running along the A4054 road between Merthyr Tydfil and Treharris give even
better access to the trail and the local service operated by Mintax actually
operates along a short section of the trail in Troedyrhiw.
Transport Links
Rail:
Regular train service from Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen
Street stations.
For details see:
www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk
For full details.
Bus:
From Cardiff Central Bus Station, Stagecoach service X4
(Cardiff, Pontypridd, Merthyr, Abergavenny, Hereford)
express bus service to Pentrebach (Hoovers entrance) for
Trevithick Trail and Trevithick’s Tunnel. Merthyr Tydfil Bus
Station for Tramroad or Pontmorlais Monument for Trevithick
Monument and start of tramroad. For details see:
www.stagecoachbus.com
Stagecoach services X78, 78 (Merthyr-Pontypridd) and 79
(Merthyr-Bedlinog) all leave Merthyr Bus Station (stand 10)
via the A4054 and give good access to various sections of
the trail. Not operated on Sundays or Bank Holiday Mondays.
www.stagecoachbus.com
and follow links to required service.
(for Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday services see Mintax
www.aber-web.co.uk )
Mintax service M1 actually runs along the Trevithick Trail
for a short section in Troedyrhiw and terminates at Merthyr
Vale Station (access to Trevithick Trail north and south).
Not operated on Sundays or Bank Holiday Mondays.
For details see: www.aber-web.co.uk
Coach:
Sixty Sixty Coaches service X43 operates from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil,
Brecon and Abergavenny. Stops at Pentrebach (Hoovers entrance) for
Trevithick Trail and Trevithick Tunnel, Merthyr Railway Station and Merthyr
Bus Station. Monday to Saturday with a reduced service on Sundays and Bank
Holiday Mondays.
For details see:
www.sixtysixty.co.uk and click on link for Service Timetables.
Merthyr Tydfil is also on the National Express network with connecting
services to/from most parts of the UK.
For details see:
www.nationalexpress.com
For details of other bus services serving the Merthyr Tydfil area and for
travel to Merthyr Tydfil from other neighbouring towns visit the Traveline
information site
www.traveline.org.uk
Traveline is also a very good source to gather
information on many types of transportation