Watch: Train carriage in Wales bursts into Xmas songs
Let’s be honest train journeys in Wales aren’t the most pleasant of experiences.
There’s the late journeys, the overcrowding and the general sense that train travel in the UK should be a lot more pleasurable that it currently is.
Massive plaudits then to the group of fellas on the 17.45 TfW train from Cardiff Central to Aberdare who decided to make one particular rail journey a hugely memorable experience.
The so far unidentified group of men handed out song sheets and got the train carriage singing Christmas songs – including Feliz Navidad and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.
Playing a ukulele and a kazoo passengers joined in – and instead of frowns and stress, this particular journey brought smiles and happiness to all within earshot of this impromptu Christmas concert.
The experience was documented by PR company MD, Dan Tyte, who posted clips on X (formerly Twitter)
Speaking to Nation.Cymru, he said: “With overcrowding and cancellations, commuting by train in Wales this December has had about as much Christmas cheer as Oliver Cromwell.
“So respect to the group of merry gentlemen on the train today who singlehandedly took it upon themselves to bring the festive spirit.
“While some commuters may have been initially sceptical when the group broke out into White Christmas, it was when the opening bars of Feliz Navidad kicked in on amplified ukelele, complete with accompanying kazoo, and the gents harmonised the Spanish lyrics in thick Valleys’ accents, that I understood we were in the presence of serious entertainers.
“Song sheets were passed out. Standards were sung. Spirits were lifted. Smiles were raised. And it’s not often you can say that on the 17. 45 to Aberdare.”
Just a normal Welsh train journey in which a bunch of old boys hand out song sheets and get the carriage singing Xmas songs, accompanied by a ukulele (with amp) and kazoo pic.twitter.com/cHdGH7FSDR
— Dan Tyte (@dantyte) December 11, 2023
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Kazoo mix) pic.twitter.com/e1Yvn5RsSW
— Dan Tyte (@dantyte) December 11, 2023
🎄Falch o weld ein cwsmeriaid yn hwyl yr ŵyl 🎼
🎄Great to see our customers enjoying the festive period 🎼 https://t.co/pYHNgzWzcB
— Trafnidiaeth Cymru / Transport for Wales (@transport_wales) December 11, 2023
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We do sing. It used to be a fairly frequent thing west of Swansea heading down past Carmarthen. I remember some happy journeys, rocking and swaying through the dark with the carriage full of song.