+ Neath General may no longer be a main line station

Wales On-line Report

Neath train station could be relegated from the main line of the proposed Swansea Bay Metro system - providing better links between the city, South Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot.

The leader of Neath Port Talbot council Rob Jones says the town could be relegated to a branch line under emerging ideas for the project - meaning metro users in Neath would need to swap trains to get to Swansea.

He says there will be “no compromise” on the issue from the local authority.

Plans for the new system, which would significantly reduce rail journey times to Cardiff and London while also improving transport connections across the region, includes a Swansea Bay commuter circle line or even a figure of eight using the Swansea district line to Llanelli .

New stations could serve the new Swansea student campus on Fabian Way and the Liberty Stadium as well as a new M4 park and ride station.

There are also proposals for a tram-train “on street” route to Mumbles .

COMMENT....   The use of the existing River Swing Bridge would enable a shortcut to Swansea, by-passing the Neath General Statiion, which would then be part of a Neath branch line.

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