Railway enthusiasts in Llanelli are turning a former train carriage into a unique cafe for the community. Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway is transforming the bodyshell of a class 153 single car diesel multiple unit into the new venture. The heritage project group is a charity run totally by volunteers hoping to grow into a major tourist attraction for the Llanelli district.
The British rail class 153 super sprinters are single car units converted in the 1990s from British Leyland built two-car class 155s. The unit which has arrived in Llanelli is the 153 374, and most recently worked for East Midlands Trains before being acquired by Transport for Wales (TFW) and transferred to Chrysalis Rail at Landore for component recovery to support the TFW Class 153 fleet.
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David Mee, speaking on behalf of the group, said: "Plans for the bodyshell include getting the interior professionally fitted out as a community cafe and meeting room for use as a hub both by the railway and the local community. Cynheidre is situated halfway along the busy Llanelli to Cross Hands National Cycle Network path and the cafe is sure to prove popular with both walkers and cyclists. It will also provide enhanced facilities for the railways volunteers and visitors by providing much needed additional undercover accommodation and better catering options on open days.
"The project has gained support from the local council, both in developing the scheme and helping to operate and staff the facility during its early months. The LMMR is very appreciative of this support."
In order to reach its goals, the charity says it needs more volunteer help in all departments including operational, maintenance and restoration, and administration. If you are interested, you can get in touch by visiting the charity's website by clicking here or visiting its Facebook page by clicking here.
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