Campaigners have launched a crowdfunding appeal to support the work of Traws Link Cymru, the group pressing for the reinstatement of the line closed in the 1960s Beeching Cuts. They argue that poor roads and patchy rail links are choking Mid and West Wales, leaving communities cut off and opportunities wasted.

Carl says the time for delay is over:

“This rail link should have been rebuilt decades ago. Communities across West Wales have been left waiting while investment pours into Cardiff and the Valleys.”

He insists that stations at Llandysul, Llanybydder and Lampeter must be part of the plan to serve towns that have been overlooked:

“People are tired of political point‑scoring. What we need now is real investment in infrastructure that connects our communities, supports local businesses, and gives young people a reason to stay in West Wales.”

Carl added that the project is about fairness as much as transport:

“If we want a stronger, fairer Wales, we need to stop talking and start building. West Wales deserves the same opportunities as the rest of the country — and that starts with laying tracks.”

A feasibility study in 2018 estimated the cost of reopening the line at £775 million, with more recent figures suggesting the bill could rise to around £2 billion. Campaigners argue that the benefits — jobs, investment and national cohesion — would outweigh the costs.

The crowdfunding page to support Traws Link Cymru’s campaign is live at JustGiving.

Rebuilding the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth rail link is central to Carl’s transport campaign, reflecting his commitment to fair investment across Wales. As set out in his Transport & Infrastructure plan, Carl believes that West Wales has been overlooked for too long while resources flow into Cardiff and the Valleys.

Restoring stations at Llandysul, Llanybydder and Lampeter would not only reconnect communities but also deliver the kind of sustainable infrastructure that supports local businesses, strengthens rural economies, and gives young people a reason to stay.

For Carl, this project is about more than transport — it’s about fairness, opportunity, and building a stronger Wales from the ground up.