Trains with "observation" carriages could soon be travelling through Welshpool along the Cambrian Railway, allowing passengers panoramic views of the area.
Similar carriages are used in Canada and other countries to give passengers the chance to see the countryside.
Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George, believes such carriages could help attract visitors to the area, allowing them to see the local countryside, as well as getting off at Newtown and Caersws stations to enjoy local communities.
The Welsh Government’s assertion that it would welcome observation carriages on the Cambrian Railway Line and the Heart of Wales Railway Line has been welcomed by the AM.
Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in the National Assembly, Mr George called for observation carriages to be considered as part of the new rolling stock which will be introduced from 2022.
Mr George said: “I’m pleased that the Cabinet Secretary was receptive to my suggestion for observation carriages to be included as part of the new rolling stock which will be introduced on the Cambrian and Heart of Wales railway lines.
“Powys and Ceredigion have some of the most magnificent scenery in the world and I would like to see our countryside enjoyed by those who travel through it, in a similar way as those in Canada can do through the Rocky Mountains.
“I’m grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for taking this forward with Transport for Wales and for agreeing with me that observation carriages are an attractive feature of many trains.
“I hope that this suggestion becomes a reality in the not too distant future.”
Photo: The existing rolling stock on the Cambrian Railway is expected to be replaced in the coming years
