:Llanharan railway station
{{Short description|Railway station in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Llanharan
| symbol_location = gb
| symbol = rail
| image = West through Llanharan railway station - geograph.org.uk - 4462635.jpg
| caption = Llanharan railway station from footbridge
| borough = Llanharan, Rhondda Cynon Taf
| country = Wales
| coordinates = {{coord|51.538|-3.441|type:railwaystation_region:GB_scale:10000|display=inline,title}}
| grid_name = Grid reference
| grid_position = {{gbmapscaled|ST001830|25|ST001830}}
| manager = Transport for Wales Rail
| platforms = 2
| code = LLR
| classification = DfT category F2
| original = South Wales Railway
| pregroup = Great Western Railway
| years = 1850
| events = Opened
| years1 = 2 November 1964
| events1 = Closed
| years2 = 10 December 2007
| events2 = Reopened
| mpassengers =
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{decrease}} 0.156 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 23,652}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 76,922}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{increase}} 0.106 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2023/24 |passengers={{increase}} 0.117 million}}
| footnotes = Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road
}}
Llanharan railway station serves the village of Llanharan in south Wales. Funded in part by SEWTA and at a cost of £4.3 million,{{cite web|url=http://www.janicegregoryam.co.uk/news%20for%202007.htm|title=Janice Gregory AM for Ogmore|access-date=15 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321100829/http://www.janicegregoryam.co.uk/news%20for%202007.htm|archive-date=21 March 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} it opened in December 2007.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7134665.stm |title=Village back on track 43 years on |date=2007-12-10 |access-date=2007-12-10 |publisher=BBC News}} It is {{convert|183|mi|72|chain|km|lk=in}} from the zero point at {{stn|London Paddington}}, measured via Stroud.{{cite book |last=Padgett |first=David |editor-last=Munsey |editor-first=Myles |title=Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western & Wales |edition=6th |date=June 2018 |orig-year=1989 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Frome |isbn=978-1-9996271-0-2 |at=map 22A }}
History
A former station was on the site until 1964, when it was closed under the Beeching Cuts. Following local campaigning from residents with backing from the MP and AM. EC funding was secured and a new station was agreed and work began in 2007.
Facilities
The station has two platforms connected by a footbridge and small shelters for passengers. It is unstaffed but features CCTV and help points. A car park is next to the station.
The approved design features Corus Modular Platforms. The Modular Platform was selected as the majority of the structure can be erected with trains still running. Alternative forms of construction would have required extended blockage of the line (with associated disruption to through services on the South Wales Main Line).
The principal contractor for construction was Galliford Try Water & Rail, utilising local subcontractors where possible.
Services
The station has an hourly service westbound to {{stnlnk|Bridgend}} and {{stnlnk|Maesteg}} and eastbound towards {{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}}, with some services continuing on towards {{stnlnk|Newport}}, {{stnlnk|Chepstow}}, {{stnlnk|Gloucester}} and {{stnlnk|Cheltenham Spa}}. These services are operated mainly by Class 170 Turbostar units.
On Sundays the service decreases slightly. There is roughly a 2-hourly service to {{stnlnk|Maesteg}} however there are also four services a day to {{stnlnk|Manchester Piccadilly}} via {{stnlnk|Hereford}} and {{stnlnk|Shrewsbury}}, the latter of which is usually operated by either Class 158 Express Sprinter or Class 175 Coradia units.
A few early morning and late evening services take the spur to {{stnlnk|Ninian Park}} to continue onto {{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}} alongside Canton sidings, to retain route knowledge.
{{rail start}}
{{rail line|previous={{Stnlnk|Pontyclun}} |route=Transport for Wales
Maesteg Line |next={{Stnlnk|Pencoed}} |col={{KAW colour}} |lightcol={{CV colour|Maesteg}} }}
{{s-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline}}
{{stn art lnk|LLR|ST001830}}
{{Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys railway stations}}
{{Transport in Rhondda Cynon Taf}}
{{Commuter Stations: Cardiff Local Lines run by Arriva Trains Wales}}
Category:Railway stations in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Category:DfT Category F2 stations
Category:Former Great Western Railway stations
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1850
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1964
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 2007
Category:Reopened railway stations in Great Britain
Category:South Wales Main Line
Category:Railway stations served by Transport for Wales Rail