Barry railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barry Welsh: Y Barri
Location	Barry, Vale of Glamorgan Wales
Coordinates	51°23′48″N 3°17′05″W / 51.3968°N 3.2847°W / 51.3968; -3.2847
Platforms	3
Other information
Station code	BRY
Classification	DfT category E
History
Opened	8 February 1889
Traffic
Passengers (2017/18)	0.534 million
Passengers (2018/19)	0.524 million
Passengers (2019/20)	0.518 million
Passengers (2020/21)	0.110 million
Passengers (2021/22)	0.349 million

Barry railway station (Welsh: Y Barri) is an important train stop in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. It is one of three stations serving the town. This station, often called Barry Town, is located after Barry Docks and Cadoxton stations. These are all on the Barry Branch line. This line runs from Cardiff Central to Barry Island, which is the end of the line.

Barry is also where the Vale of Glamorgan Line begins. This line connects to places like Rhoose and Llantwit Major. It ends at Bridgend. Train services at Barry are run by Transport For Wales. They are part of the larger Valley Lines train network.

History of Barry Station

The station in 1962

The station in July 2007

Barry station was the final stop for the original Barry Railway. However, it was not one of the very first stations to open. The first passenger trains started running on December 20, 1888. These trains went between Cogan and Barry Docks. This part of the line was known as the Cogan branch.

The main railway line ran from Cadoxton South Junction to Trehafod in the Rhondda. Trains did not start running to Barry station itself until February 8, 1889. Barry remained the end of the line for trains coming from Cardiff for many years. In 1922, the Barry Railway joined the Great Western Railway.

The railway line was extended to Barry Island on August 3, 1896. Many passenger trains then started ending their journeys there. Barry was also the starting point for the Vale of Glamorgan Railway. This line opened on December 1, 1897. The Barry Railway company operated it.

Trains from Bridgend used to arrive at Barry. The Barry Railway had its own platform there. Passengers who wanted to travel to Cardiff had to change trains at Barry. The Vale of Glamorgan line was closed to passengers on June 15, 1964. But people really wanted it back. So, it was successfully reopened on June 10, 2005.

When it reopened, Rhoose station also offered a bus link to Cardiff International Airport. The platforms at Rhoose and Llantwit Major stations were rebuilt. They now look different, with staggered platforms at Rhoose. Llantwit Major has platforms opposite each other. A footbridge connects them for people to cross safely.

Station Facilities and Accessibility

Barry station has a ticket office where staff can help you. It is on platform 1. The office is open six days a week, from morning until mid-afternoon. If the office is closed, you can use a ticket machine. This machine also lets you pick up tickets you bought online.

There is a waiting room inside the main building. You can use it when the station is staffed. There is also a shelter on the island platform. Other useful things at the station include a cafe, a payphone, and toilets. You can find out about train times from electronic displays. There are also automatic announcements, a help point on platform 1, and timetable posters.

Station footbridge that was replaced in 2022 (pictured in 2019)

As of October 2019, it was easy to get to platform 1 without steps. However, to reach platforms 2 and 3, you had to use a footbridge with steps. This made it hard for people with disabilities or heavy luggage. If you were a disabled passenger coming from Cardiff, you were told to go to Barry Island first. Then you could travel back to Barry station. If you wanted to go to Barry Island from Barry, you had to go to Barry Docks first. If you were coming from Bridgend, you would get off at Barry Docks. Then you would change platforms to go to Barry Island.

To make things easier, a new footbridge with lifts was planned for Barry station. This project began in February 2022. A similar project was almost finished at Cadoxton station by October 2019. Before this, Cadoxton only had a subway to cross between platforms. A foot crossing used to be there but was removed for safety. The same had happened at Barry station.

Train Services at Barry

The station usually has four trains per hour from Monday to Saturday. These trains go east towards Cardiff Central. Westbound, there are three trains per hour to Barry Island. One train per hour goes to Bridgend.

Trains going east often continue past Cardiff Central. They usually go to either Merthyr Tydfil or Aberdare. There is a train every half hour to each of these places.

On Sundays, there are usually two or three trains per hour to Cardiff Central. One train each hour continues to Merthyr or Aberdare. Another train goes to Rhymney every other hour. There are also half-hourly trains to Barry Island. A train goes to Bridgend every two hours.

Most services use Class 150 Sprinter train units. These trains usually run in pairs. This creates a longer train with four carriages.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Barry Docks		Transport for Wales Vale Line - Barry Island branch		Barry Island
		Transport for Wales Vale Line - main route		Rhoose Cardiff International Airport

Station Improvements and Regeneration

The rebuilt station showing the new Platform 3

Barry station has been part of a big improvement plan. This plan cost £200 million. Its goal was to increase train capacity in Cardiff and nearby areas. As part of this, Barry now has a third platform, called Platform 3. This platform is mainly used by trains going to or from Barry Island.

Trains going towards Cardiff can still use the main platform (Platform 1). However, the new platform line can be used in both directions. It has signals that allow this. Sometimes, trains going towards Cardiff might start from Platform 3. This can help if the timetable needs to catch up. It also means trains don't always have to turn around at Barry Island.

During the construction, the Barry signal box was taken out of use. It was then demolished by March 28, 2014. The space where the old platform was filled in and paved. New platform stones were laid.

Before 1964, this new platform area was Platform 4. Platform 1 used to be a special platform where trains to Pontypridd via Wenvoe or Cardiff started. That area is now a car park for people who want to catch the train. Platform 1 now serves all trains going towards Cardiff and beyond. These trains come from either Barry Island or Bridgend. Platform 2 now only serves trains going to Bridgend. The line to Barry Island from Platform 2 was shortened during the changes. It now acts as a safety stop with a buffer at the end.

Barry Station in Media

Barry railway station has appeared on television. It was shown in two episodes of the popular TV show, Gavin & Stacey.