Latest News

10.3.26 The Team at the Vale of Rheidol are incredibly proud to announce that the Collection X project has been recognised with two national awards. The Heritage Railway Association Award for Achievement of the Year 2026 and the Heritage Railway Magazine Interpretation Award 2026. A huge amount of work has gone into securing, transporting and…

22.2.26 Join Us for Our 2026 Croeso Day at the Vale of Rheidol Railway (Trade only) We’re delighted to announce our Vale of Rheidol Railway Croeso Day, taking place on Tuesday 14th April 2026 — a special open day created especially for local accommodation providers and attraction owners. Each year, the Vale of Rheidol Railway welcomes over 40,000 visitors, many of whom are looking for memorable places to stay, great attractions to visit, and unique experiences to enjoy while they’re in the area. Our Croeso Day is all about working more closely together — building stronger relationships with local businesses and helping each other showcase the very best of Mid Wales. What’s the idea behind Croeso Day? Quite simply: better connections mean better visitor experiences. Word-of-mouth recommendations are one of the…

13.2.26 We’re delighted to announce the arrival of a brand new Souvenir Guide Book, now available at the Vale of Rheidol Railway. This beautifully produced guide has been many years in the making and is the result of a collaborative team effort between members of the Vale of Rheidol Railway team…

29.1.26 This week, we were excited to announce the arrival of the last two Collection ‘X’ locomotives from their long-term storage in Surrey. These are the Avonside ‘Heisler’ Renishaw No. 4 (built 1931), and the Bagnall Articulated Renishaw No. 5 (built 1936). They had both lived at the late Peter Rampton’s farm in Surrey for…

9.1.26 The Vale of Rheidol Railway has been running for over 120 years. Hop aboard one of our historic trains for a journey through the stunning Welsh countryside. Trains will travel a short journey between Aberystwyth and Capel Bangor stations only as winter maintenance is taking place on the tracks preventing our trains from reaching…

7.1.26 Wishing you a Happy New Year from all of us at the Vale of Rheidol. We’re delighted to announce that our onsite café, Caffi Cledrau will reopen on Monday 12th January, and we can’t wait to welcome you back through our doors. Cledrau will be open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm serving delicious…

🎄 Ticket to Christmas Has Arrived at the Vale of Rheidol Railway Christmas has officially arrived at the Vale of Rheidol Railway, and we’re delighted to welcome families to our magical Ticket to Christmas experience — 13 & 14th December and then from Wed 17th through to 23rd December, 11am – 6pm. Taking…

The Vale of Rheidol Railway has taken centre stage on Welsh television once again — this time as part of ITV Wales’ Coast & Country programme, which celebrates the people, places, and natural beauty of Wales. A few weeks ago, presenter Hamish and the Coast & Country crew visited…

Autumn Adventures on the Vale of Rheidol Railway   As the long summer days give way to crisp mornings and golden evenings, autumn is one of the most magical times to enjoy a steam train journey through the Rheidol Valley. The trees take on stunning shades of orange, yellow, and gold, and the softer light…

New Book Lifts the lid on ‘Collection X’ – The Secret World of Narrow Gauge Locomotives A fascinating new book from the Vale of Rheidol Railway is set to uncover one of Britain’s most enigmatic private collections and tell the story of the man behind it. ‘Narrow Gauge Enigma – The Story of Peter Rampton…

The Vale of Rheidol Railway is bringing a brand-new festive adventure to Aberystwyth this year, with the launch of ‘Ticket to Christmas’ – an enchanting indoor Christmas event set against the magical backdrop of the Vale of Rheidol Railway Museum. Essential winter track maintenance means trains won’t be running this Christmas however the Vale of…

BBC Radio 4’s flagship political discussion programme is coming to Aberystwyth on Friday 17th October 2025 The programme was first broadcast in October 1948 and visits a different part of the UK every week with a panel of four speakers who answer questions from the audience. providing people with the opportunity to challenge politicians, policy makers, writers, and thinkers. The panel is different each week and is broadcast LIVE on Radio 4 straight after the 8.00pm news bulletin. It’s your chance to put your question to the panel. Doors open at 6.30pm and close at 7.15pm. The programme will be broadcast live from 8-9pm. Entry is by ticket only. Please note there will be security checks on admittance to the venue. Recording and photography during the broadcast is not permitted. There will be question cards available for you to complete…