The U.K.’s Leading Special Trains Operator
The Cambrian
Travel aboard ‘The Cambrian’ from Machynlleth to Porthmadog or Pwllheli* and revel in the romance of the steam train. Sit back and view beautiful Cardigan Bay on one side and the mountains of Snowdonia on the other. A day for all the family to relax and discover the magnificent Cambrian Coast.
Leave the car for today and take a comfortable ride in old style coaches pulled by a steam locomotive. Enjoy the delights of the white sands of the Mawddach estuary, cross the famous Barmouth Bridge, view historic castles and discover some of the Great Little Trains of Wales, all against the backdrop of the majestic Snowdonian Mountains in the distance.
*Trains run to Pwllheli on Wenesdays and Fridays only. Wednesday is market day in Pwllheli.
The Towns:
The small Welsh market town of Machynlleth was once, briefly, the capital of Wales and the site of Owain Glyndwr’s Welsh Parliament in 1404. The town centre is close to the station.
Barmouth, an old harbour town with its iconic wooden viaduct, built in 1866, crossing the River Mawddach estuary, is a popular holiday destination with a lively promenade and lovely sandy beaches - perfect for a summer’s afternoon.
Now a World Heritage site with the castle built by Edward I, Harlech’s 200’ high crag offers stunning views over Cardigan Bay, the Lleyn Peninsula and the mountains of Snowdonia.
The town of Porthmadog grew in the 19th Century as a result of being in an ideal location for shipping slate. It is now better known for its marina and two steam railways, the Ffestiniog and the Welsh Highland Railways*. Also to be discovered are the maritime museums and nearby Black Rock Sands which provide a wonderful beach playground.
*The Welsh Highland Railway have kindly offered holders of West Coast Railways’ tickets for ‘The Cambrian’ a reduced fare on the Welsh Highland Railway at Porthmadog.
And finally Pwllheli: On Wednesdays and Fridays only the train continues on to the coastal town of Pwllheli leaving time for lunch and a visit to the open-air market (Wednesdays).
Download the PDF documentation
Dates of Operation:
28th July to 29th August - Monday to Friday inclusive.
TIMETABLE
| Outward departure times | Return departure times | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Machynlleth | 10.05 | Pwllheli | 14.15 |
| Dovey Junction | 10.10 | Porthmadogg arr. | 14.45 |
| Tywyn | 10.33 | Porthmadog dep. | 14.55 |
| Barmouth | 11.02 | Minffordd | 15.00 |
| Harlech | 11.23 | Harlech | 15.23 |
| Minffordd | 11.42 | Barmouth | 15.50 |
| Porthmadog arr. | 11.49 | Tywyn | 16.22 |
| Porthmadogg dep. | 12.19 | Dovey Junction | 16.53 |
| Pwllheli arr. | 12.40 | Machynlleth | 16.59 |
FARES (Standard Class only on this service)
| FARES TO PORTHMADOG - Monday to Friday inc. | ADULT RETURN | JUNIOR RETURN | ADULT SINGLE | JUNIOR SINGLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Machynlleth | £28.00 | £16.00 | £20.50 | £12.00 |
| From Tywyn | £22.00 | £13.00 | £17.00 | £10.00 |
| From Barmouth | £20.00 | £11.00 | £15.00 | £8.00 |
| FARES to Pwllweli - Wednesday and Friday only. | ADULT RETURN | JUNIOR RETURN | ADULT SINGLE | JUNIOR SINGLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Machynlleth | £33.00 | £21.00 | £23.50 | £15.00 |
| From Tywyn | £27.00 | £18.00 | £20.00 | £13.00 |
| From Barmouth | £25.00 | £16.00 | £18.00 | £11.00 |
| To Travel from Porthmadog to Pwllweli only. | £7.50 | £5.00 | £5.00 | £3.00 |
Junior: A child of school age.