page_title: Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway
section_title: Into the Cambrian Railways
hierarchical_section_title: Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway / History / Into the Cambrian Railways
caption_attribution_description: English: System map of the Aberystwyth and Welsh Coast Railway network in 1869 by then part of the Cambrian Railways, Wales
context_page_description: The Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway was a standard gauge railway company, built in Wales, United Kingdom.
  The railway was intended to be built between Aberystwyth to Pwllheli and on to Porth Dinllaen, with branches to Dolgelly and Machynlleth. These branches joined the Bala and Dolgelly Railway and Newtown and Machynlleth Railway respectively. There were two major river bridges on the planned route: the Dovey Bridge, across the River Dovey, and the Barmouth Bridge, over the River Mawddach. The Dovey bridge proved to be impracticable so was not built; an altered route was built from Aberdovey to Dovey Junction, near Morben, making a Y-shaped network. The line from Pwllheli to Porth Dinllaen was also not built, although parliamentary powers to do so were obtained on multiple occasions. The routes were opened progressively between 1863 and 1869, all parts of the planned network being built apart from the Dovey Bridge, and Porth Dinllaen to Pwllheli line.
  The company was absorbed into the Cambrian Railways in 1865. Shortage of money was a continuous problem and delayed completion of the network.
context_section_description: The group of Newtown railways were now discussing amalgamation: the several small railways would be stronger if they joined forces. The A&WCR was included in the talks, but there was a standard condition imposed by Parliament in considering amalgamations, that the companies concerned must have spent at least half of their authorised capital, and that at least half of their authorised network must have been built. The A&WCR was not yet in that position, and had to be excluded from the amalgamation Bill put forward by the other companies. They were authorised to amalgamate, forming the Cambrian Railways, by Act of 25 July 1864. Henceforward the A&WCR was included in strategic discussions and plans with the Cambrian Railways.
  A year later, the criterion for amalgamation was achieved, and the A&WCR was incorporated in the Cambrian Railways by the passing of the Cambrian and Coast Railways (Amalgamation) Act of 5 July 1865: the merger took effect on 5 August 1865.
caption: The A&WCR network in 1869 (under the Cambrian Railways)
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