First regular passenger railway service

The first regular passenger railway service was offered by the Oystermouth Railway, later to become the Swansea and Mumbles Railway, in Swansea, Wales, on 25 March 1807. The Oystermouth Railway was opened in 1806 principally for the shipment of coal, iron ore and limestone from Mumbles to Swansea. At a meeting of the board of directors on 16 February 1807, a proposal was accepted from Mr. Benjamin French, who agreed to provide a vehicle and pay the company £20 per year for the right to operate a passenger service over the line. The first regular rail passenger service commenced the next month. Initially successful, patronage waned and passenger traffic ceased in the 1820s. A horse-drawn service recommenced in about 1855, after which the line progressed through steam power followed by conversion to electric traction in 1928 and eventual closure in 1960.