Grid reference SN844438 Managed by Arriva Trains Wales 2011/12 120 | Station code SUG DfT category F2 Number of platforms 1 | |
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Place Sugar Loaf Mountain, Llandovery Address Llanwrtyd Wells LD5 4TE, United Kingdom Similar Llangynllo railway station, Garth (Powys) railway st, Dolau railway station, Llangammarch railway station, Knucklas railway station | ||
Sugar Loaf railway station is a railway station in Powys, Wales, and is the most remote station on the Heart of Wales Line. It is located one mile to the north-east of a small but prominent knoll known as Sugar Loaf, around which the A483 road loops. The line through here was opened by the Central Wales Extension Railway in 1868; the station was closed to passengers in 1965 but subsequently reopened to traffic in 1984.
Contents
This station is a request stop used mainly by trekkers and cyclists, since it is the nearest stop to the Sugar Loaf vantage point, although it was originally built to serve a number of cottages occupied by railway workers (such as signalmen and track gangers). South of the station the line passes beneath the hills via the 1,001-yard (915 m) Sugar Loaf tunnel, which is 820 feet (250 m) above sea level and is approached by gradients as steep as 1 in 60 on each side. It then descends steadily for the next 8 1⁄2 miles (13.7 km) down to Llandovery. The climb up to the summit here was a challenging one for train crews in steam days (especially northbound) and the use of banking locomotives was commonplace.
The station sees very few passengers - in 2010/2011 an estimated 84 passengers used the station and in 2014 it was reported that the station was averaging five passengers per month.
Facilities
The station has basic amenities only - a waiting shelter and timetable poster boards, though it has had a digital CIS display fitted despite its remote location. There is no step-free access available, due to the station entrance being some distance from the nearest road (the A483) along a narrow path and in a cutting.
Services
All trains serving the station are operated by Arriva Trains Wales. There are four trains a day in each direction (towards Swansea and Shrewsbury) from Monday to Saturday, and two services on Sundays. Being a request stop, passengers have to give a hand signal to the approaching train driver to board or notify the guard when they board that they wish to alight from the train there.