The Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway (LMMR) has announced plans to convert the the bodyshell of a Class 153 single-car diesel multiple unit into a unique community café and hub at its base at Cynheidre.

The railway’s plans are for the interior of the bodyshell to be fitted out professionally as a railway-themed Community Cafe and meeting room. Once that has been completed, the railway will make it available for use as a hub by both the railway and the local community.

As Cynheidre is situated halfway along the busy Llanelli to Cross Hands National Cycle Network path, the railway expects the cafe to prove popular with both walkers and cyclists.

As well as providing a Community Cafe and meeting room, the converted Class 153 will also provide enhanced facilities for the railway’s volunteers and visitors with much-needed extra accommodation that is undercover, as well as being able to offer better catering options on open days.

The railway is very appreciative of the support the project has received from the local council project, both in developing the scheme and providing assistance with operating and provision of staff during the facility’s early months.

British Rail Class 153 Super Sprinters are single-car units that in the 1990s were converted from British Leyland-built two-car Class 155s. The unit now on the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway at Cynheidre is 153 374. Its most-recent operational use was with East Midlands trains, but was then acquired by Transport for Wales (TFW) and transferred to Chrysalis Rail at Landore which recovered components to support Transport for Wales’ own 26-strong Class 153 fleet.
The Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway has expressed its thanks to both Transport for Wales Rail and Chrysalis Rail for donating the bodyshell so that it can have a new life at Cynheidre, where it arrived on Friday, 6th January.