Newtown railway station (Wales)

Coordinates: 52°30′44″N 3°18′43″W / 52.51222°N 3.31194°W / 52.51222; -3.31194
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Newtown

Welsh: Y Drenewydd
National Rail
General information
LocationNewtown, Powys
Wales
Coordinates52°30′44″N 3°18′43″W / 52.51222°N 3.31194°W / 52.51222; -3.31194
Grid referenceSO111913
Managed byTransport for Wales
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeNWT
ClassificationDfT category E
History
Original companyOswestry and Newtown Railway
Pre-groupingCambrian Railways
Post-groupingGreat Western Railway
Passengers
2018/19Decrease 0.175 million
2019/20Decrease 0.152 million
2020/21Decrease 22,420
2021/22Increase 87,598
2022/23Increase 0.124 million
Listed Building – Grade II
FeatureRailway Station
Designated9 May 1988
Reference no.8112[1]
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Newtown railway station (Welsh: Y Drenewydd) is a railway station serving Newtown, Powys, Wales.

History[edit]

Newtown was the last major station before Moat Lane Junction where the Mid-Wales Railway, to Llanidloes, Rhayader, Builth Road and on to Cardiff (with a branch to Brecon), diverged from the Cambrian Railways main line (today's Cambrian Line) to Machynlleth and Aberystwyth.

It was also originally served by the (now mostly defunct) Llanidloes and Newtown Railway (opened in 1859 and initially isolated from the rest of the Welsh railway system) and the Oswestry and Newtown Railway (opened in 1861). All were subsequently subsumed into the Cambrian by 1865.The station was the eastern terminus of the Newtown and Machynlleth Railway opened by the Countess of Londonderry at Machynlleth station on 3 January 1863.[2]

The Mid-Wales line passenger service was withdrawn on 31 December 1962, though trains to and from this route latterly started and terminated at Moat Lane Junction. Services to Oswestry and Whitchurch via the former O&NR Cambrian main line ended in January 1965, when the route east of Buttington closed to passenger traffic as a consequence of the Beeching cuts.

Facilities[edit]

Station building in November 2008

The station currently has two through platforms, which are used separately for trains in either direction. The station is usually used as one of the passing points for trains on the Cambrian Line as it is a single track. The station has one west facing bay platform/siding which is periodically used as a storage point for Network Rail's departmental trains.

There is a Transport for Wales appointed "Station Agent" with full ticket issuing facilities in the main building. It also have computer training centre. Train running information is provided by digital CIS displays, automatic announcements and customer help points on both platforms. Step-free access is available on both platforms, but the ramp to access Platform 2 is not suitable for wheelchair or mobility scooter users.[3]

There are plans to install an accessible footbridge with lifts in 2024.[4]

Services[edit]

Trains run from here westwards to Machynlleth and then either Aberystwyth or Pwllheli via Barmouth (most trains convey a portion for both routes) and eastwards to Shrewsbury and Birmingham International. There is a basic two-hourly service each way – on weekdays and Saturdays there are also some additional Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth services during the mornings and evenings. On Sundays there is a two-hourly service on the Shrewsbury – Aberystwyth axis, but only a limited service along the coast to/from Pwllheli (three in summer and one in winter).[5]

Preceding station   National Rail National Rail   Following station
Transport for Wales
Cambrian Line
  Historical railways  
Scafell Halt
Line open, station closed
  Cambrian Railways
Oswestry and Newtown Railway
Newtown and Machynlleth Railway
  Abermule
Line open, station closed

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cadw. "Railway Station (8112)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  2. ^ Engineering Timelines – Talerddig CuttingEngineering Timelines; Retrieved 6 May 2016
  3. ^ Newtown station facilities National Rail Enquiries
  4. ^ "Work to start on new wheelchair-friendly footbridge at Powys railway station". County Times. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  5. ^ Table 76 National Rail timetable, May 2017

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Media related to Newtown (Powys) railway station at Wikimedia Commons