Pontypool and Blaenavon Heritage Railway
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Get your heritage railway tickets for unforgettable family days out in South Wales
Make lasting memories with the family as you take a trip back in time on board the Pontypool and Blaenavon Heritage Railway! Included on your 55-minute journey through the Blaenavon World Heritage site:
- Depart from the main station at Furnace Sidings
- Head to the famous Big Pit National Coal Museum
- Reverse back through Furnace Sidings to Garn-yr Erw Halt (The Whistle Inn)
- Journey southwards through Furnace Sidings to the end of the line at Coed Avon
- Travel along to Blaenavon High Level, the perfect place to take some photos of the locomotive
Please note: This is the journey for a standard running timetable along the line.
Get your tickets to a wonderful family day out in Blaenavon and book your Pontypool and Blaenavon Heritage Railway tickets today. You won't find a better price online and booking only takes a few clicks.
And for just a small cost more, why not upgrade to a first class ticket for your journey?
Enjoy one of the best things to do in Torfaen on board the Pontypool-Blaenavon Steam Railway
Journey through the breathtaking Blaenavon World Heritage site on a trip through time on board the Pontypool and Blaenavon Heritage Railway.
Enjoy the charm of both steam and diesel heritage trains that run on weekends and bank holidays from April to September, as well as on select Wednesdays in July and August. Check the timetable below to see the full 2024 schedule.
Throughout the year, keep an eye out for various special events, including the much-loved Halloween Ghost Trains and Steam Santa Specials!
Pontypool and Blaenavon Heritage Railway Timetable 2024:
- Annual Steam Gala: 13-15th of September.
- Steam Days: 24th, 27-28th, 31st of July. 3-4th, 7th, 10-11th, 14th, 17-18th, 21st, 24th, 28th, 31st of August. 1st of September.
- Diesel Days: 7-8th, 21-22nd, 28-29th of September.
- Steam & Diesel Days: 25-26th of August.
- Steam Ghost Train Days: 26-27th, 30th-31st of October.
- Steam Santa Specials: 30th of November. 1st, 7-8th, 14-15th, 21-22nd of December.
Annual Steam Gala - Pontypool and Blaenavon Heritage Railway
Don't miss Pontypool and Blaenavon Heritage Railway's Annual Steam Gala this September, back for 2024 with up to five locomotives in steam
Torfaen NP4 9XP
How to find us
Blaenavon’s Heritage Railway is situated in the UNESCO-listed Blaenavon Industrial Landscape on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales. There are several ways to reach the site from across the area by road and public transport.
By car:
Ample free car and coach parking is available at Furnace Sidings, our main station. The site is just off the B4248 at Garn-yr-Erw between Brynmawr and Blaenavon. Please use postcode NP4 9SF for satnavs and mobile devices. This will lead you to the junction of the B4248 and the road leading to the Garn Lakes and the railway, go down this road until you reach the Furnace Sidings station car park. The road is signed using the tourist information brown steam train icon.
- By the M4 Westbound: Exit at Junction 25A (Grove Park) for Newport and Cwmbran. Once off the motorway, take the A4042 towards Cwmbran. As you approach Cwmbran, you will start seeing signs for Pontypool. Follow these until Croes-Y-Mwyalch roundabout. Continue following the A4042 towards Abergavenny until you approach Pontypool, where you will start seeing for Big Pit/Pwll Mawr. Follow these until you are near Blaenavon when you will begin to see brown train signs. These will take you to the main station at Furnace Sidings.
- By the M4 Eastbound: Exit at Junction 26 (Malpas) for A4051 Cwmbran, Newport and Caerleon. Follow the A4051 until you reach the Woodlands roundabout. Take the exit A4042 towards Abergavenny/Newport, before then taking exit A4042 Abergavenny at Croes-y-Mwyalch roundabout. Continue following the A4042 towards Abergavenny until you are near Pontypool, from where you will start seeing signs for Big Pit/Pwll Mawr. Follow these until you approach Blaenavon, when you will begin to see brown train signs. These will take you to the main station at Furnace Sidings.
- By the A465 (Heads of the Valleys Road): Exit the A465 at Brynmawr and follow signs for Big Pit/Pwll Mawr. These will take you onto the B4248 towards Blaenavon. Follow these, and as you approach the area you will see tourism signs for Blaenavon Heritage Town. As you enter the village of Garn-yr-Erw, lookout for the brown steam engine sign and the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway advertising board. Turn off here and follow the access road across the valley to the main station at Furnace Sidings.
By public transport:
The nearest railway stations with easy connections to the railway are at Cwmbran and Newport. Alight at either station to connect onto Stagecoach in South Wales’s X24 service from Blaenavon to Newport, which departs from Cwmbran Bus Station Stand E and Newport Market Square Bus Station Stand 16 respectively. Either ask to alight at Varteg Road Cemetery or Sycamore Road, both of which are located a short distance from Blaenavon High Level. Look out for our overbridge and follow the side path to the station.
Please take care if alighting at Varteg Road Cemetery as there is no pavement. Although the road from Sycamore Road bus stop to High Level has a continuous pavement, some may find the gradient up the valley side challenging.
Phil Anslow and Sons also operate local bus services around Blaenavon. Two of their services drop visitors off near the railway. The number 30 operates from Cwmbran Bus Station to Blaenavon on a different route to the Stagecoach X24. Alight at the Lion Street terminus, turn left, and then walk down Broad Street (passing The Railway Shop) until you are at the bottom of the valley. Then follow the B4246 up the other side of the valley until you reach Blaenavon High Level. The latter part of this route is the same as from the X24’s Sycamore Road stop, and therefore please note that some may again find the gradient challenging.
Phil Anslow and Sons also serve the Big Pit National Coal Museum on their number 31 service from Brynmawr to Blaenavon. The Big Pit Halt station can be found at the bottom of the overflow car park.
- Free parking
- Tearoom
- Gift shop
The Ticket Office only accepts contactless or card payments. There are no cash facilities at the ticket office.
The Fireman's Shovel Tearoom and Eric's Emporium (shop) accepts cash or card payments.
Yes, well behaved dogs on leads are welcome. You are asked to keep them off the carriage seating however.
Children aged under three years travel free and do not require a ticket (Except for Santa Specials when tickets must be purchased for all ages). Child tickets are required for those aged 3 years to under 16 years. Adult tickets are required for those aged 16 years plus.
As of January 2024 there is a very limited access for wheelchair users.
However, it is hoped that during the latter end of 2024 one of the refurbished carriages will be back in service. This carriage will have excellent access for wheelchair users with extra wide doors and an inclusive area in the main body of the carriage.
The carriages have quite narrow doors and corridors with limited storage space. Passengers generally leave prams and pushchairs in the station building whilst travelling.
Unfortunately there are no toilets on the train but facilities are available at both Furnace Sidings and Blaenavon High Level stations.
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