Merthyr Vale railway station

Merthyr Vale

Welsh: Ynysowen
National Rail
General information
LocationMerthyr Vale, Merthyr Tydfil
Wales
Coordinates51°41′12″N 3°20′13″W / 51.6866°N 3.3370°W / 51.6866; -3.3370
Grid referenceST076995
Managed byTransport for Wales
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeMEV
ClassificationDfT category F2
Key dates
1 June 1883Opened
Passengers
2019/20Decrease 44,218
2020/21Decrease 7,932
2021/22Increase 31,002
2022/23Increase 40,706
2023/24Increase 44,080
Location
Map
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Merthyr Vale railway station serves the villages of Merthyr Vale and Aberfan in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. It is located on the Merthyr branch of the Merthyr Line. Passenger services are provided by Transport for Wales.

History

The station was first opened by the Taff Vale Railway in 1883.[1] It is shown briefly in Richard Fleischer's 1971 film 10 Rillington Place, starring Richard Attenborough and John Hurt. When Timothy Evans (Hurt) returns to Wales, he is seen walking from the station.

Since 2008, the station has had a passing loop installed which allowed a half-hourly service to be introduced on the branch from the May 2009 timetable change.[2] Previously, until 1991, a loop had existed at Black Lion Crossing, a short distance to the south,[3] which also controlled the siding connections into Merthyr Vale Colliery.[4]

Services

The station has a basic half-hourly service in each direction (Mon-Sat): northbound to Merthyr Tydfil and southbound to Pontypridd, Radyr, and Cardiff Central. On Sunday, there is an hourly service each way to Merthyr and Cardiff Central.[5]

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Quakers Yard   Transport for Wales
Merthyr branch
  Troed-y-rhiw

References

  1. ^ Hutton, John (2006). The Taff Vale Railway, vol. 1. Silver Link. ISBN 978-1-85794-249-1.
  2. ^ New half-hourly train service due to startWales Online; Retrieved 14 May 2009
  3. ^ Signalling Record Society – Black LionSignalling Record Society; Retrieved 16 October 2013
  4. ^ Merthyr Tydfil's Railways www.alangeorge.co.uk; Retrieved 16 October 2013
  5. ^ "Timetables". Transport for Wales. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.