Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway
In time the Canal became overwhelmed by the volume of traffic, and encouraged by the successful opening of railways with more advanced technology than the horse tramways of previous years, the Taff Vale Railway was promoted. It was authorised by Parliament in 1836 and it opened between Merthyr and Cardiff docks in 1841. The line passed close to the Maesmawr workings but did not make a connection.
Taff Vale Railway
The Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway reached Quaker's Yard on 11 January 1858, and made a connection with the TVR there. This gave a route for minerals from the TVR network to reach much further afield, but reduced the haul length on the TVR system. The Taff Vale Extension Railway was later extended to Middle Duffryn, near Aberdare, opening in April 1864. The extension crossed the Llancaiach colliery sections of the TVR on the level, and Llancaiach coal was transported via Quakers Yard on the TVER in preference to using the Llancaiach line inclined plane.