Thanks for your responses guys. I was under the impression that the connection was a very low speed 'through siding' arrangement with shunt signals rather than main (running) signals, with access by permission of a third party. Obviously things have moved on from there!

Now that Abercynon has been sorted with reinstatement of the 'down' side and the installation of scissors crossovers at the north-end, does anyone know if the there are any plans to sort out Pontypridd? Is there any real reason why the 'down' side of the island platform cannot be restored to use? Haven't been down that way for a long time. What a mess they made of that station in the 1970/71 rationalisation! The reason given at the time for closing the down side was the cost of maintaining the diamond crossings of the down Rhondda over the up Merthyr/Aberdare due to the wear and tear of the MGRs. Well, they've put one in at Abercynon!

Anyone know what the latest is on providing a proper running junction for the WSR? Or is the intention now to run parallel to the mains as far as Taunton? Haven't seen anything in the railway press about it recently.

Thanks Guys, good hear from someone else from the Cynon Valley. Yes I was involved in campaigning for the reopening and chaired two public meetings in Aberdare, one about a year before the reopening and one around 6 months afterwards to review operation and financial performance.

Delighted to find this website. Short intro: Life-long GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) and BR^▸ (British Rail(ways))(WR) enthusiast brought up in Aberdare, South Wales. Joined the WR as a Signal & Telecoms trainee in 1966 in the London District. Still a signalling engineer based in Birmingham and live in Bewdley. Ambition to see trains from Paddington return to Kidderminster, Stourbridge Junction and maybe even Birmingham Snow Hill? Especially interested in the reinstatement of double line on the 'North Cotswold line' (how long has it been called that?) Look forward to hearing from you all!