Place Porthmadog Grid reference SH592413 Managed by Welsh Highland Railway Platforms in use 2 | Area Gwynedd Original company Croesor Tramway Owner Ffestiniog Railway | |
 | ||
Owned by Festiniog Railway Company Address Porthmadog LL49 9SP, United Kingdom Similar Ffestiniog Railway, Pen‑y‑Mount Junction railway st, Porthmadog Harbour railway st, Dinas railway station, Beddgelert railway station | ||
Welsh highland railway pont croesor railway station 06 06 2011 87
Pont Croesor is a railway halt in Wales, on the Welsh Highland Railway, which runs through the Snowdonia National Park from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. It is located on the section between the stations of Hafod y Llyn and Pen-y-Mount Junction.
Originally, as part of the Croesor Tramway, there was a siding at this location but no station. When the WHR was initially built in 1923 a small halt was provided however this closed with the railway in 1936 . All trace of this was removed when the line was lifted.
The line from Pont Croesor to Porthmadog Harbour has been connected since early 2009, being available for stock transfer purposes. The station was officially opened on 26 May 2010 and was the WHR's temporary terminus, having previously opened to passengers on 22 May 2010. The previous terminus at Hafod y Llyn is now closed.
It opened to timetabled passenger services on 8 January 2011.
When the station opened there was a full length platform on the west side of the loop only, but with the commencement of through services in both directions during 2011 a second platform was provided.. The station site is adjacent to Pont Croesor bridge, which crosses the River Glaslyn, and is a hybrid road/rail bridge, as each uses the same piers. The bridge was extensively modified in appearance recently to feature standard safety barriers. The new loop was finally completed, for operational purposes, on 13 March 2010.
During the 2010 and 2011 seasons the station has featured a manned booking office and gift shop, however with all trains terminating at Porthmadog for the 2012 season Pont Croesor is no longer a terminus, and has therefore been downgraded to an unstaffed halt. The station building has been removed to Blaenau Ffestiniog but the waiting room remains.
The station is adjacent to the Glaslyn Osprey Project viewing site, from where the public can see the nesting place of a pair of ospreys which have successfully raised chicks every year since 2005. The majority of the WHR's construction in this area has been carried out whilst the birds are abroad in the winter months, in order to keep disturbance to a minimum.