Place Abercynon Station code ACY DfT category F1 Phone +44 333 321 1202 | Grid reference ST082948 Managed by Arriva Trains Wales 2011/12 0.240 million Number of platforms 2 | |
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Address Station Rd, Abercynon CF45 4SE, UK Similar Pontypridd railway station, Aberdare railway station, Llanbradach railway station, Cwmbach railway station, Penrhiwceiber railway station | ||
Abercynon railway station is the railway station serving the village of Abercynon in the Cynon Valley, Wales. It is located on the Merthyr Line, 15.5 miles (25 km) north of Cardiff Central. Passenger services are provided by Arriva Trains Wales.
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History
It was first opened on this site as "Navigation Road in 1840 and was then renamed "Aberdare Junction" by the Taff Vale Railway in 1846 then further renamed "Abercynon" in 1896 and to "Abercynon South" in 1988. The original station buildings, including the Great Western Railway signal box of 1932 (which originally came from Birmingham Moor Street station) have been demolished, with the signal box being demolished near the end of 2013.
In November 2007, a proposal was submitted by the Welsh Assembly Government to discontinue all services provided at Abercynon North. From a date "no sooner than 1st May 2008" as the notice ran, all services were to be transferred to Abercynon South, which would be rebuilt (with the reinstatement of the disused "up" side of the island platform) to accommodate all services serving both stations.
Following the merger of Abercynon North and South, the latter station's name reverted to simply "Abercynon".
On 14 December 2010, a free Park and Ride car park opened on the site of the station yard, with capacity for 160 cars. This is hoped to improve commuter travel to Cardiff and other areas on the Valley Lines network. This was funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Regional Development Fund.
On 26 and 27 April 2012, the British Royal Train visited the station as part of the tour of the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The train had to stop at Abercynon due to the tight curves on the line, with the Royals continuing their journey by road.
In October 2013 the Signal Box (out of use since the aforementioned 2008 remodelling & resignalling) was removed and a new Ticket Vending Machine was installed on the station to enable travellers to purchase tickets before boarding a train as well printing tickets for pre-booked journeys. The layout is currently controlled from an interim signalling centre next to the 'up' (Cardiff-bound) platform. This was due to hand over control to the Cardiff Rail Operating Centre in 2014 as part of the wider modernisation of the area ahead of electrification of the Valley Lines network, but still appears to be under control.
On 21 February 2015, a blue plaque was unveiled at the station entrance to mark the location of trade unionist John Ewington's workplace. His claim against his employer, the Taff Vale Railway Company for unfair treatment led to the famous Taff Vale Case which was fundamental in the creation of the Labour Party.
In February 2016 work started at the station to improve the facilities ahead of the South Wales Metro system. Work included the installation of an extra shelter and a bike shelter where the old signal box stood.
Service
Abercynon is served by four trains per hour to Cardiff Central, continuing to either Barry Island (three trains per hour) or Bridgend via The Vale of Glamorgan Line (hourly).
Northbound services operate twice hourly to Merthyr Tydfil and twice hourly to Aberdare Monday to Saturday.
On Sundays, southbound services operate every two hours to Barry Island and Bridgend via The Vale of Glamorgan Line, and northbound service operate every two hours to Merthyr Tydfil and every two hours to Aberdare.
Major stations on the network are Pontypridd, Cardiff Queen Street, Cardiff Central, Bridgend and Barry.