Station code PRT DfT category D Opened 1848 | Grid reference SJ063830 Managed by Arriva Trains Wales 2011/12 0.362 million Number of platforms 2 | |
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Works at prestatyn railway station filmed from open top bus kyv663x
Prestatyn railway station serves the town of Prestatyn in North Wales. It located on the North Wales Coast Line and was opened in 1848. The coming of the railway is credited with bringing prosperity to the town, which was an aspiring resort. The station is managed by Arriva Trains Wales and is served by their services from Cardiff Central, Birmingham International and Manchester to Holyhead and Llandudno; also by Virgin Trains (West Coast) services to and from London Euston.
Contents
History
The first railway station in Prestatyn opened in 1848, when the Chester and Holyhead Railway reached the town. Later, the line became part on the London & North Western Railway, who quadrupled it through the town in 1897 and built the current station as part of the widening scheme. Although threatened with closure in the 1960s as part of the Beeching cuts, objections meant the station was reprieved. It has however reverted to double track operation, with the former fast line centre island platform the only one still in use.
The station was also once the junction for a branch line to Dyserth - this was opened by the LNWR in 1869, initially for mineral traffic only. A passenger service was instituted in 1905 but lasted only until 1930, when it was withdrawn by the LMS. It remained open to serve a quarry at Dyserth until complete closure in 1973. Much of the old line is now used as a footpath.
In Autumn 2011 Prestatyn was the first of six stations in Wales to receive a new access footbridge and lift installed as part of Network Rail's national 'Access for All programme'.
Services
The hourly Manchester to Llandudno and Birmingham International/Cardiff to Holyhead services both call here, giving the station two trains each hour to Chester and Llandudno Junction. There are also six through trains each weekday to and from London. On Saturdays there are four trains to/from London.
On Sundays there is an hourly service each way from mid-morning (to Holyhead westbound and Crewe eastbound) plus two through trains to London.