The Beeching Cuts of 1963 had an enormous and detrimental effect on Cymru.
What Were the Beeching Cuts?
189 stations in Cymru were closed on top of the 166 stations set for closure pre-Beeching, like St Asaph. This left behind a fractured railway system which has been struggling ever since.
In many ways, the cuts further separated the South and the North, as it can take up to 4 hours to get from, for example, Rhyl to Cardiff. You also need to travel through England for many of the Welsh journeys you wish to take, when it should not be necessary.
Pwllheli and Bangor are separated by a mere 29 miles and yet if you wish to get to either from the other by train, it will take you anything from 90 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the available route.
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DIGITAL Welsh Histories Magazine – September 2025
Niklas is the founder, owner, manager, editor, writer, video creator, voice over artist, and so forth, of Welsh Histories. He is passionate about the preservation of Welsh culture; the rejuvenation of the Welsh language and the promotion of Welsh history. Niklas currently resides in Pune, Maharashtra, with his beloved wife.