TheClarbeston Road and Letterston Railway was a small railway company formed to give theGreat Western Railway a more direct route to the port atFishguard Harbour.
A 1907Railway Clearing House junction diagram showing (lower right) railways in the vicinity of Letterston Junction, including part of the Clarbeston Road and Letterston Railway
The original proposal of 1844 (authorised by an act of Parliament[which?] in 1845) had been for the western terminus to be atFishguard, with Haverfordwest on a branch, and by August 1847 work was in progress within 7 miles (11 km) of Fishguard. In 1848, the effects of theGreat Irish Famine made Ireland a less attractive proposition, and work on the western end of the line stopped as a result.[2] In 1851, work restarted, but it was decided that the western terminus should be on theMilford Haven Waterway, and Neyland was selected; the section between Clarbeston Road and Fishguard, some 14 miles (23 km) in length, was not built.[3]
A new double-track line was proposed by the GWR to shorten the distance to Fishguard; this was theClarbeston Road and Letterston Railway, which opened on 30 August 1906 between Clarbeston Junction (271 miles 8 chains (436.3 km) from Paddington) and Letterston Junction (281 miles 58 chains (453.4 km)). Prior to this, Letterston Junction was 283 miles 30 chains (456.0 km) from Paddington via Rosebush.[7] There is one tunnel, Spittal Tunnel, which is 243 yards (222 m) long; the eastern end is 274 miles 40 chains (441.8 km) from Paddington.[7] There were no intermediate stations at first,[8] but three were opened later:Wolf's Castle Halt on 1 October 1913,[9]Welsh Hook Halt on 5 May 1924,[10] andMathry Road on 1 August 1923.[11]
The intermediate stations were closed on 6 April 1964,[12] but the line remains open for services toFishguard and Goodwick andFishguard Harbour stations. Falling traffic on the line caused it to be reduced to single-track on 16 May 1971 with a passing loop at Letterston Junction.[7]
