Pontypridd Graig railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pontypridd Graig
|
|
|---|---|
| Location | Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°35′54″N 3°20′44″W / 51.5984°N 3.3455°W |
| Other information | |
| Status | Disused |
| History | |
| Original company | Barry Railway |
| Pre-grouping | Barry Railway |
| Post-grouping | Great Western Railway |
| Key dates | |
| 16 March 1896 | Station opened as Pontypridd |
| 1 July 1924 | Renamed Pontypridd Graig |
| 5 May 1930 | Station closed |
Pontypridd Graig railway station was an old train station in the town of Pontypridd, located in the South Wales valleys. It was part of the Barry Railway line.
The railway line first opened on 18 July 1889. It was used to carry coal from the Rhondda area to the docks. People living nearby really wanted a passenger service. So, trains for passengers finally started running on 16 March 1896.
On that day, trains began running from Porth to Barry. Later, on 7 June 1897, a new service started from Pontypridd to Cardiff. The station was closed to passengers on 5 May 1930. The Great Western Railway (GWR) decided to send trains to the main Pontypridd Central station instead.
Contents
A Look Back: The Station's Story
The Barry Railway company opened the station on 16 March 1896. It was first simply called Pontypridd.
Why the Name Changed
The Barry Railway joined with the Great Western Railway on 1 January 1922. To avoid confusion, the station was renamed Pontypridd Graig on 1 July 1924. There was another station nearby, which used to be part of the Taff Vale Railway, also called Pontypridd. That station was renamed Pontypridd Central in the same year.
When the Station Closed
From 5 May 1930, passenger trains on the old Barry line were sent on a different route. They went through Treforest Low Level and then to Pontypridd Central. Because of this change, Pontypridd Graig station was closed down.
What's There Now?
Today, you won't find any signs of the old station or its platforms. However, the entrance to the old tunnel is still there.
You can find the tunnel entrance in the car park of Dewi Sant Hospital. This is just behind the modern Pontypridd railway station on Albert Road. The other end of the tunnel is quite a distance away, on the grounds of the University of South Wales.
