Place Cwmbran Station code CWM DfT category E Number of platforms 2 | Grid reference ST298958 Managed by Arriva Trains Wales 2011/12 0.328 million | |
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Address Cwmbran NP44 2JU, United Kingdom Similar Rogerstone railway station, Risca and Pontymister railway st, Caldicot railway station, Caerphilly railway station, Pontypool and New Inn railwa | ||
Departing cwmbran railway station
Cwmbran railway station (Welsh: Cwmbrân) is in the northeast of Cwmbran town centre, within five minutes' walking distance. It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail and is managed by Arriva Trains Wales, who operate all trains serving it. It lies on the Welsh Marches Line from Newport to Hereford. The station was opened at this site in 1986 to serve the commuter route to Newport and Cardiff, and shoppers to the town centre.
Contents
History
Historically, a number of railway stations served Cwmbran. The first station was opened by the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company in July 1852 or April 1878. This closed on 11 March 1880 and a new station was opened on the same day by the Great Western Railway. The station was located on a spur which linked the Monmouthshire Railway with the Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway. This closed to passengers on 30 April 1962 and to goods on 17 May 1965. The first station, which had remained open for goods traffic, also closed on 17 May 1965.
The Monmouthshire Railway line to Blaenavon ran to the west of the town. The section between Pontypool and Blaenavon closed to passengers 30 April 1962, the mineral branches followed on 7 April 1969 and the branch to Talywain on 3 May 1980. The section from Pontypool as far as Oakfield Siding near Cwmbran saw coal traffic until 1980.
New station
The present station was opened by British Rail on 12 May 1986. It is situated around 300 yards (270 m) to the south of Lower Pontnewydd railway station which closed to passengers on 9 June 1958 and to goods on 25 January 1965.
Facilities
Refurbished facilities at the station were officially opened by Rhodri Morgan AM on Friday 14 March 2008. This included a larger car park, a new ticket hall, modern sheltered seating areas and new live departure boards like those seen at Newport. Previous to the refurbishment of the station, there used to be audio announcements, but these have since stopped. In addition to this, Torfaen County Borough Council have funded a limited Number 4 bus that serves the town centre and suburbs of Cwmbran, which is currently operated by Stagecoach in South Wales.
Service
Services that stop at Cwmbran in both directions are all operated by Arriva Trains Wales and include the hourly service between Manchester Piccadilly, Cardiff Central and West Wales and the two hourly service between Holyhead and Cardiff Central. Most Sunday services only run on the former route (there are only two services each way to/from Holyhead).