Station code NTH DfT category D | Grid reference SS751974 Managed by Arriva Trains Wales 2011/12 0.810 million Number of platforms 2 | |
 | ||
Similar Briton Ferry railway station, Baglan railway station, Pontarddulais railway station, Llanelli railway station, Swansea railway station | ||
Neath railway station is a mainline railway station, serving Neath, Wales. Operated by Arriva Trains Wales the station is located at street level on Windsor Road, situated back from the street fronting a small car park. It is also accessible via Milland road car park.
Contents
History
The surviving Neath railway station is one of four railway stations originally in Neath, and to distinguish it from the others was at one time named Neath General, the suffix being applied before Nationalisation. Neath Canalside served the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway services until they ended in 1963. Neath Riverside (also at times known as Neath Bridge Street and Neath Low Level), served trains to and from Brecon via the Neath and Brecon Railway, with an additional stop at Neath Abbey. The railway itself remains partly in use, linking Onllwyn and the docks. The remains of the Neath Bridge Street station can be seen by looking down at the railway alongside the river bridge just before Neath railway station in the Swansea direction.
Neath General also acted as the western passenger terminus of the Vale of Neath Railway for most of its life - trains running from here to Pontypool Road via Aberdare and Crumlin High Level via a connecting curve at the west end of the station. These ceased in June 1964 (when the line fell victim to the Beeching Axe) and the link line was lifted, though parts of the old VoNR remains intact (but disused) as far as Resolven and from Aberdare to Hirwaun.
The present station buildings date from 1974, when the old GWR structures dating from 1886/7 were demolished & rebuilt in contemporary style by British Rail.
Facilities
The station has 2 platforms both accessed through ticket barriers:
Services
The station is served by both Great Western Railway main line services between London Paddington and Swansea (hourly each way with peak extras) and Arriva Trains Wales regional trains between Milford Haven/Carmarthen and Manchester Piccadilly via Cardiff, Newport and Shrewsbury (also hourly), plus the two-hourly Swansea to Cardiff stopping trains.
On Sundays the London - Swansea service runs hourly and the Milford Haven/Carmarthen - Manchester trains run every two hours.