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.
Ynysybwl branch line railway
The Taff Vale Railway was authorised by Act of Parliament in 1836, with the principal objective of conveying the iron production of Merthyr and Dowlais to Cardiff for onward transport by ship; in addition there were connections to certain collieries, and the carriage of passengers was permitted. It was a standard gauge railway, engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.