It will soon be a case of history repeating itself along the historic route of the world’s first passenger railway.
For years the Swansea Bay Rider has been travelling the well-worn path of the historic Mumbles Railway which ran along what is now Swansea promenade for over 150 years.
And the historic links will grow from Friday August 21 when the land train will be moving one of its stops from behind the Tivoli Amusement Arcade to the newly opened Oystermouth Square Café.
The move is especially apt as the Oystermouth Square Café used to be the Mumbles Railway ticket office.
The building was used as a ticket office and waiting room for the Mumbles Train from 1898 until January 1960 when the railway was decommissioned.
Since then the office has been used as a bus station, tourist information centre and taxi office.
The 72-seat land train currently gives passengers a spectacular journey along Swansea Bay whilst taking in a number of attractions along the way including Southend Gardens with its children’s play area and crazy golf facilities, the lido at Blackpill and the glorious Clyne Gardens.
Ashleigh Road Pitch and Putt and Singleton Park Boating Lake are also just a short stroll further along the prom.
Christine Johns, Swansea Council’s Parks Lettings and Foreshore Manager, said: “It is great to link in more closely with the history of the old Mumbles Railway whilst at the same time providing passengers with a safer place to wait.
“The Bay Rider will begin operating from the new pick-up point at the Oystermouth Square Café this Friday and will continue to do so for the rest of the summer.”
The Bay Rider is running daily throughout the rest of August whatever the weather.
It departs from Blackpill at 10am and runs back and forth to Mumbles until 6.30pm.
When the children go back to school and up until the end of September it will only run weekends. The Bay Rider will be back for one night only on October 31 when it will be transformed into the Halloween Ghost Train.
Tickets for the Bay Rider can be purchased on the train. Visit www.swanseaprom.com or call 01792 635436 for more information.
