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Tondu railway station: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 51°32′51″N 3°35′43″W / 51.5474°N 3.5952°W / 51.5474; -3.5952
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*The [[Garw Valley Railway]] to [[Blaengarw]] and onwards to the [[Blaengarw Colliery|Blaengarw]] and [[International Colliery|International collieries]]
*The [[Garw Valley Railway]] to [[Blaengarw]] and onwards to the [[Blaengarw Colliery|Blaengarw]] and [[International Colliery|International collieries]]
[[File:Tondu railway station geograph-2541362-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|left|Coal train from the Ogmore Valleys passing Tondu in 1962]]
[[File:Tondu railway station geograph-2541362-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|left|Coal train from the Ogmore Valleys passing Tondu in 1962]]
It hence had an extensive set of railway workshops, and was also the junction access point for the [[Tondu Ironworks]]. Enough traffic flowed through the junction to warrant a sizable locomotive shed. The original Ogmore Valley Railway shed was demolished in 1889 to make way for a roundhouse shed, which later became home to various [[Great Western Railway]] allocated tank engines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/taffytank/6955608730/|title = Inside Tondu Steam shed in 1960 by John Wiltshire|date = January 1960}}</ref>
It hence had an extensive set of railway workshops, and was also the junction access point for the [[Tondu Ironworks]]. Enough traffic flowed through the junction to warrant a sizable locomotive shed. The original Ogmore Valley Railway shed was demolished in 1889 to make way for a roundhouse shed, which later became home to various [[Great Western Railway]] allocated tank engines.


The ironworks shut from 1895 onwards, but the previous developments meant that it remained an important junction with the installation of a wagon works for the collieries in the area. After [[British Railways]] closed most of the branch lines to passengers in the 1950s and early 1960s and the demise of the Blaengarw and International collieries in the late 1980s, the station and lines were greatly rationalised. The locomotive shed closed in the late-sixties. Tondu station was closed on 22 June 1970 (with the end of passenger trains over the old L&O route to Cymmer Afan) and was reopened on 28 September 1992.<ref name=Butt /> [[British Rail]] and [[Mid Glamorgan County Council]] reopened the line.
The ironworks shut from 1895 onwards, but the previous developments meant that it remained an important junction with the installation of a wagon works for the collieries in the area. After [[British Railways]] closed most of the branch lines to passengers in the 1950s and early 1960s and the demise of the Blaengarw and International collieries in the late 1980s, the station and lines were greatly rationalised. The locomotive shed closed in the late-sixties. Tondu station was closed on 22 June 1970 (with the end of passenger trains over the old L&O route to Cymmer Afan) and was reopened on 28 September 1992.<ref name=Butt /> [[British Rail]] and [[Mid Glamorgan County Council]] reopened the line.

Revision as of 16:59, 3 December 2022

Tondu
National Rail
Looking north along the platform towards Maesteg.
General information
LocationTondu, Bridgend
Wales
Coordinates51°32′51″N 3°35′43″W / 51.5474°N 3.5952°W / 51.5474; -3.5952
Grid referenceSS894843
Managed byTransport for Wales Rail
Platforms1
Other information
Station codeTDU
ClassificationDfT category F1
History
Original companyLlynvi Valley Railway
Pre-groupingGreat Western Railway
Post-groupingGreat Western Railway
Key dates
25 February 1864Opened
22 June 1970Closed
28 September 1992Reopened
Passengers
2017/18Increase 48,888
2018/19Decrease 48,478
2019/20Increase 51,052
2020/21Decrease 7,572
2021/22Increase 28,370
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Tondu railway station is a railway station serving the village of Tondu, Bridgend county borough, South Wales. It is located on the Maesteg Line from Cardiff via Bridgend.

Passenger services are operated by Transport for Wales Rail as part of the Valley Lines network for local services.

History

The station was opened by the Llynvi Valley Railway on 25 February 1864.[1] Originally developed as part of the Duffryn Llynvi and Porthcawl Railway, it was a junction of six railway lines:

Coal train from the Ogmore Valleys passing Tondu in 1962

It hence had an extensive set of railway workshops, and was also the junction access point for the Tondu Ironworks. Enough traffic flowed through the junction to warrant a sizable locomotive shed. The original Ogmore Valley Railway shed was demolished in 1889 to make way for a roundhouse shed, which later became home to various Great Western Railway allocated tank engines.

The ironworks shut from 1895 onwards, but the previous developments meant that it remained an important junction with the installation of a wagon works for the collieries in the area. After British Railways closed most of the branch lines to passengers in the 1950s and early 1960s and the demise of the Blaengarw and International collieries in the late 1980s, the station and lines were greatly rationalised. The locomotive shed closed in the late-sixties. Tondu station was closed on 22 June 1970 (with the end of passenger trains over the old L&O route to Cymmer Afan) and was reopened on 28 September 1992.[1] British Rail and Mid Glamorgan County Council reopened the line.

Arriva Trains Wales 150252 passes the Tondu Junction signal box with a service to Cardiff Central.

The current passing loop is still controlled by the former Tondu junction signal box, which manually controls the line using semaphore signals. As well as the former Maesteg Line, the former Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company line exists as a freight-only by-pass line to Margam. Passenger trains would sometimes be diverted through this branch-line whenever the main-line between Bridgend and Port Talbot was closed for engineering work. Trains were diverted to travel via and reverse at Tondu.[2] Nowadays, when the main-line is closed, bus services will replace train services as the old branch has speed restrictions of 5-15 mph in force.

Services

A basic hourly service is in operation, northbound to Maesteg and southbound to Bridgend and Cardiff Central. Most southbound trains continue onwards from Cardiff to Newport, Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa.

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Sarn   Transport for Wales
Maesteg Line
   Garth
  Historical railways  
Aberkenfig   Great Western Railway
Maesteg Line 		  Llangynwyd
Line open, station closed.

References

  1. ^ a b Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 231. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
  2. ^ "Tondu Crossing - 2". 27 July 1980.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tondu railway station.
Llynvi and Ogmore Railway
originally Duffryn, Llynvi and Porthcawl Railway
Legend
 
to Glyncorrwg
South Wales Mineral Railway
to Tonmawr
Cymmer Viaduct
Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway
to Port Talbot │ to Treherbert
West Junction
 Cymmer Afan
Abergwynfi
Abergwynfi Colliery
Cymmer Tunnel
1591 yd
1455 m
 Caerau Colliery
Caerau
Nantyffyllon
Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company
to Pontyrhyl
Maesteg (Neath Road)
PTR&DCo
to Port Talbot
 Maesteg Castle Street
Maesteg
Maesteg (Ewenny Road)
Garth
Troedyrhiew Garth
Llangynwyd
Ogmore Valley Railway
to Brynmenyn
 Tondu
South Wales Main Line
to Bridgend
Cefn Junction PTR&DCo
 Kenfig Hill
South Wales Main Line
to Bridgend
Pyle Junction
 Pyle
South Wales Main Line
to Swansea
 Cornelly Quarry
Nottage Halt
Nottage Tunnel
63 yd
58 m
 Porthcawl
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