South West Wales Connected Community Rail Partnership

South West Wales Connected is a Community Rail Partnership established by Transport for Wales and hosted by 4theRegion. Community Rail Partnerships exist to encourage greater use of rail services through the active participation of local communities in their rail line, and through a range of activities at and around their stations that provide economic, social and environmental benefits to residents and visitors alike.

We commissioned our audio tour in Swansea as part of our ongoing railway heritage projects and our celebration of Swansea and the Mumbles Railway, the world's first fare-paying passenger service, which began operating in 1807. This initiative marks an important and genuinely remarkable chapter in global railway history, while also serving to celebrate and preserve Swansea's rich rail heritage. By bringing the story to life through audio, we aim to honour its legacy while ensuring that future generations can appreciate its lasting impact on the history of transport.

Our second tour explores Port Talbot's past and present through the women who have shaped it across generations. This tour honours the women whose care, vision, and quiet authority have shaped Port Talbot – often without recognition, yet never without impact.