:Merthyr Vale railway station

{{Infobox station

| name = Merthyr Vale

| native_name = {{langx|cy|Ynysowen}}

| symbol_location = gb

| symbol = rail

| image = Merthyr Vale railway station, Mid Glamorgan (geograph 7759965).jpg

| borough = Merthyr Vale, Merthyr Tydfil

| country = Wales

| coordinates = {{coord|51.6866|-3.3370|type:railwaystation_region:GB_scale:10000|display=inline,title}}

| grid_name = Grid reference

| grid_position = {{gbmapscaled|ST076995|25|ST076995}}

| manager = Transport for Wales

| platforms = 2

| code = MEV

| classification = DfT category F2

| years = 1 June 1883

| events = Opened

| mpassengers =

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{decrease}} 44,218}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 7,932}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 31,002}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{increase}} 40,706}}

{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2023/24 |passengers={{increase}} 44,080}}

| footnotes = Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

|mapframe=yes

|mapframe-zoom = 13

}}

Merthyr Vale railway station serves the villages of Merthyr Vale and Aberfan in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. It is located on the Merthyr branch of the Merthyr Line. Passenger services are provided by Transport for Wales.

History

The station was first opened by the Taff Vale Railway in 1883.{{cite book |author=Hutton, John |title=The Taff Vale Railway, vol. 1 |publisher=Silver Link |year=2006 |ISBN=978-1-85794-249-1 }} It is shown briefly in Richard Fleischer's 1971 film 10 Rillington Place, starring Richard Attenborough and John Hurt. When Timothy Evans (Hurt) returns to Wales, he is seen walking from the station.

Since 2008, the station has had a passing loop installed which allowed a half-hourly service to be introduced on the branch from the May 2009 timetable change.[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/05/14/new-half-hourly-train-service-due-to-start-91466-23617628/ New half-hourly train service due to start]Wales Online; Retrieved 14 May 2009 Previously, until 1991, a loop had existed at Black Lion Crossing, a short distance to the south,[http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwk/S1681.htm Signalling Record Society – Black Lion]Signalling Record Society; Retrieved 16 October 2013 which also controlled the siding connections into Merthyr Vale Colliery.[http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/railways.htm Merthyr Tydfil's Railways] www.alangeorge.co.uk; Retrieved 16 October 2013

Services

The station has a basic half-hourly service in each direction (Mon-Sat): northbound to {{rws|Merthyr Tydfil}} and southbound to {{rws|Pontypridd}}, {{rws|Radyr}}, and {{rws|Cardiff Central}}. On Sunday, there is an hourly service each way to Merthyr and Cardiff Central.{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Transport for Wales |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=11 November 2024 |url=https://tfw.wales/service-status/timetables |quote=}}

{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Quakers Yard}} |route=Transport for Wales
Merthyr branch |next={{stnlnk|Troed-y-rhiw}} |col={{KAW colour}} |lightcol={{CV colour|Merthyr}} }}

References

External links

[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3304918 Photo of the station & passing loop in 2012 (Geograph.org)]

Category:Railway stations in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough

Category:DfT Category F2 stations

Category:Former Taff Vale Railway stations

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1883

Category:Railway stations served by Transport for Wales Rail