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 Taff Bargoed Joint Line had been authorised in 1867 and there were certain protections in its Act for the Taff Vale Railway, including running powers over it. In 1872 the TVR presented a Parliamentary Bill to build on that, making a new railway to Llancaiach, with new connections to the Taff Vale Extension line. The intention was to run to Dowlais over the Llancaiach line and the Taff Bargoed line. The TVR already had access to Dowlais over the Dowlais Railway, but this route seemed more attractive, linking in the Navigation Colliery, and possible traffic from the Taff Bargoed line itself.