Llanfairpwll railway station

Llanfairpwll railway station is a station on the North Wales Coast Line from Crewe to Holyhead, serving the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales.

Llanfairpwll
National Rail
Llanfairpwll station building and platforms 1 and 2 seen near platform 2 exit gate.
General information
LocationLlanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey
Wales
Coordinates53.221°N 4.209°W / 53.221; -4.209
Grid referenceSH525715
Owned byNetwork Rail
Managed byTransport for Wales Rail
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeLPG
ClassificationDfT category F2
Key dates
1848Opened
1966Closed
1970Temporarily reopened
1972Closed
1973Reopened
6 July 2020Temporarily closed
21 August 2021Reopened
Passengers
2017/18Increase 20,604
2018/19Increase 21,246
2019/20Decrease 20,890
2020/21Decrease 290
2021/22Increase 7,158
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

Opened in 1848 it was initially the terminus of the line from Holyhead before the opening of the Britannia Bridge to the mainland in 1850.[1] It suffered a catastrophic fire on 13 November 1865 and had to be completely re-constructed. It was closed in 1966 but reopened in 1970 due to the fire on the Britannia Bridge again as the terminus for trains from Holyhead, with a single wooden platform. It was again closed in 1972 and subsequently reopened again 1973 with both wooden platforms (the only one on the island), which was refurbished in 2017[2] and the signal box remain from the original configuration, but converted into a gate keeper's box, meaning no junctions or signals are controlled from there, except for gate locking. However, a turntable, sidings and goods yard have disappeared, the latter two under a car park.[1]

The station is known for its longer name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, but this is a Victorian contrivance for the benefit of tourists[3] with no basis in historical usage. It comprises the full name of the village, plus local topographical details, plus the name of a neighbouring church etc. The actual longest railway station name in Wales (indeed the UK) is Rhoose Cardiff International Airport railway station.

Coronavirus

The railway station officially reopened for service on 21 August 2021. Between 8 July 2020 and 21 August 2021 trains did not call at the station; Transport for Wales stated that during the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic the short platform and the inability to maintain social distancing between passengers and the guard when opening the train door was the reason.[4] Trains stopped at the platform, with Class 153, 150, 158 and 175 serving the station many times before the closure. People were complaining on Transport for Wales' social media about the decision, and letters and emails were sent to local councillors and Member of the Senedd Rhun ap Iorwerth, with a petition created on the Welsh Parliament website to support the frustration.

Passengers were left with no choice but to travel to Bangor railway station by bus or taxi, which is 5 miles away from Llanfairpwll: there were no rail replacement services serving the station unless engineering works were taking place, but passengers with bicycles had to cycle to other stations to use the trains. On 11 August 2021 it was announced that the station would re-open. Local Member of the Senedd Rhun ap Iorwerth criticised the length of the closure stating, "I still can't understand why there couldn't have been a way to open it safely before now, and I've made my frustration clear, but better late than never."[5]

Facilities

The station is unstaffed and has no ticket provision - these must be bought on the train or prior to travel. Waiting shelters are provided on each platform and train running details offered via timetable posters and digital information screens (as can be seen from the accompanying station photograph). The station is not listed as accessible for mobility-impaired and wheelchair users on the National Rail Enquiries website.[6]

During April 2017, the upgrade of the footbridge was completed as part of Network Rail's Railway Upgrade Plan. The footbridge, which is over 100 years old, was temporarily removed earlier in the year, to undergo a £395,000 upgrade, including specialist refurbishment and repairs at the Centregreat Rail workshop in Cardiff.[7]

Services

There is a basic two-hourly weekday service in each direction from the station in the winter 2022 timetable, with several additional morning and evening departures. Most eastbound trains run to Wrexham General, Shrewsbury and Birmingham International, although some run to either Crewe, Manchester Airport or Cardiff.[8]

The Sunday service is irregular but serves a variety of eastbound destinations, including Crewe, Cardiff, Manchester Airport and Birmingham International.

Trains only stop here on request.

The station has very short platforms, only 40 yards (37 m) long.[9] As a result, only one door on Transport for Wales intercity services is unlocked by the conductor/guard for passengers (Except for the BR classes 150/2 and 153 which occasionally visit Holyhead.)

Preceding station   National Rail National Rail   Following station
Transport for Wales Rail
North Wales Coast Line

See also

References

  1. Jones, Geraint: Anglesey Railways, pages 27–28. Carreg Gwalch, 2005
  2. "Llanfairpwll footbridge stairwell after refurbishment and repair work". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  3. See Slater's Directory.
  4. "Covid-19 timetable from 29 March 2021". Tfwrail.wales. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  5. "Trains to stop at Valley and Llanfairpwll stations again". North Wales Chronicle. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  6. Llanfair P.G station facilities National Rail Enquiries
  7. Bridge Upgrade for Llanfair PG Railways Illustrated issue 173 July 2017 page 14.
  8. Table 77 National Rail timetable, December 2022 (Network Rail)
  9. Permissible line speeds – London North Western Region (North) Archived 18 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine Network Rail. Page 104

Further reading

  • Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (2011). Bangor to Holyhead. West Sussex: Middleton Press. figs. 26-35. ISBN 9781908174017. OCLC 795179106.
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