THE owner of the Porthcawl land train, homelessness charity Emmaus South Wales, has sold it to St Fagans National Museum of History near Cardiff.
The land train was in operation last year last year but has struggled to recruit a driver. Despite an extensive search, Emmaus South Wales says it was unable to find a suitable candidate with the required category D driving licence.
“We’re incredibly sad to see the departure of Lucie Land Train,” said Del Jones, chief executive of Emmaus South Wales. “Unfortunately, we were left with no other choice after struggling to recruit the necessary drivers. Lucie was a beloved part of the Porthcawl coastline, bringing joy to both locals and tourists. While we will miss her presence dearly, we are comforted knowing she will have a new home with a fellow Welsh organisation.
“Ultimately, we had to make a sensible financial decision in the best interests of the charity, ensuring we continue to focus our resources on supporting those in need.”
The land train, affectionately known as ‘Lucie’ after one of the founders of the Emmaus movement, carried up to 68 passengers on its four-mile route from town out to Rest Bay.
Emmaus South Wales won the prestigious Social Enterprise of the Year award at the 2022 Social Business Wales Awards for the land train, which was cited as “a prime example of the charity’s innovative approach to engaging with the local community while supporting its broader mission”.
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