Merthyr Vale railway station

Railway station in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

51°41′12″N 3°20′13″W / 51.6866°N 3.3370°W / 51.6866; -3.3370Grid referenceST076995Managed byTransport for WalesPlatforms2Other informationStation codeMEVClassificationDfT category F2Key dates1 June 1883OpenedPassengers2018/19

45,2202019/20

44,2182020/21

7,9322021/22

31,0022022/23

40,706

Location

Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Merthyr Vale railway station is a railway station serving 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

Since 2008 the station has had a passing loop installed. This allowed a half-hourly service to be introduced on the branch from the May 2009 timetable change.^[1] Previously (up until 1991) a loop had existed at Black Lion Crossing, a short distance to the south,^[2] which also controlled the siding connections into Merthyr Vale Colliery.^[3]

The station was first opened by the Taff Vale Railway in 1883.^[4] It is briefly shown 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.

Services

As noted, the station has a basic half-hourly service in each direction (Mon-Sat), northbound to Merthyr Tydfil and southbound to Pontypridd, Radyr, Cardiff Central and Barry. Trains then continue alternately to Barry Island and Bridgend via the Vale of Glamorgan Line. On Sunday, there is a two-hourly service each way to Merthyr & Bridgend.^[5]

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

References

^ New half-hourly train service due to startWales Online; Retrieved 2009-05-14
^ Signalling Record Society – Black LionSignalling Record Society; Retrieved 2013-10-16
^ Merthyr Tydfil's Railways www.alangeorge.co.uk; Retrieved 2013-10-16
^ Hutton, John (2006). The Taff Vale Railway, vol. 1. Silver Link. ISBN 978-1-85794-249-1.
^ GB eNRT 2015-16 Edition, Table 130 (Network Rail)