Aberdovey railway station

File:Aberdyfi Station (8062147651).jpg

The first station opened 24 October 1863 near the harbour on a short branch line south of the present station. It closed when the present station was opened in 1867 by the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway, then run by the Cambrian Railways. It later became part of the Great Western Railway and then passed on to the London Midland Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948. When Sectorisation was introduced, the station was served by Regional Railways until the Privatisation of British Railways. Until the 1960s there was a summer service between {{stnlnk|London Paddington}} and {{lang|cy|Pwllheli|italic=no}}, via {{stnlnk|Birmingham Snow Hill}}, Shrewsbury and {{lang|cy|Machynlleth|italic=no}}.

The original station building is in use as a private residence. It is located next to a static caravan park which is all that lies between the station and the stretch of coastline between {{lang|cy|Aberdyfi|italic=no}} and {{lang|cy|Tywyn|italic=no}}, and next to the Aberdovey Golf Club.{{cite web |title=Contact Us/Contact Details |url=http://www.aberdoveygolf.co.uk/page.aspx?pid=59942 |website=Aberdovey Golf |access-date=24 June 2019 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031140559/http://aberdoveygolf.co.uk/page.aspx?pid=59942 |url-status=dead }}

The station was host to a GWR camp coach in 1939.{{cite book|last=McRae|first=Andrew|title=British Railway Camping Coach Holidays: The 1930s & British Railways (London Midland Region) |volume=Scenes from the Past: 30 (Part One) |publisher=Foxline |year=1997 |isbn=1-870119-48-7|page=31}} At least one camping coach was positioned here by the Western Region from 1952 to 1962, there were two from 1957 to 1958 and three from 1959 to 1962 when the London Midland Region took over responsibility for the coaches, they had three here from 1963 to 1971.{{cite book |last=McRae |first=Andrew |title=British Railways Camping Coach Holidays: A Tour of Britain in the 1950s and 1960s |volume=Scenes from the Past: 30 (Part Two) |publisher=Foxline |year=1998 |isbn=1-870119-53-3|pages=112, 118–119}}

File:Harrington Hump at Aberdovey railway station (geograph 5159383).jpg

Originally a two-platform station with a short branch line (only a few hundred yards long) to the harbour, the station is now a single-platform, unstaffed halt. Like many stations in Wales and the North of England, the station was constructed before standard platform heights were established and is very low. Aberdovey was the third UK railway station to receive a specially designed raised section - a Harrington Hump - to improve accessibility for passengers. This was funded by the Welsh Government.{{Cite web|title=Transport {{!}} Topic|url=https://gov.wales/transport|access-date=2021-07-20|website=GOV.WALES|language=en}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/8391451.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |title=Station hump helps train access |date=3 December 2009 |access-date=5 December 2009}}{{cite news |title=UK Rail Station Installs Harrington Hump |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/news/news61899.html |access-date=5 December 2011|website=Railway-Technology.com|publisher=Verdict Media |date=13 August 2009}} There are no ticketing facilities at the station, and there is also no waiting room. There is a free car park with 25 spaces.{{cite web|title=Station Facilities |url=https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/AVY.aspx |access-date=13 December 2020|website=National Rail Enquiries|publisher=National Rail |date=13 December 2020}}

Transport for Wales run a two-hourly service each way on the Cambrian Coast Line from {{lang|cy|Machynlleth|italic=no}} - where the route connects to the main Cambrian Line - to {{lang|cy|Pwllheli|italic=no}} through {{lang|cy|Aberdyfi|italic=no}}. Most services in the May 2016 timetable run to/from Birmingham International via Shrewsbury.{{NRtimes|May 2016|76}}

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{{rail line |next={{stnlnk|Penhelig}} |route=Transport for Wales
Cambrian Coast Line |previous={{stnlnk|Tywyn}} |col={{KAW colour}} }}

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{{rail line |previous={{stnlnk|Towyn}}
Line and station open |next={{stnlnk|Penhelig}}
Line and station open |route=Cambrian Railways
Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway |col={{Cambrian colour}} }}

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{{Gwynedd railway stations}}

Category:Railway stations in Gwynedd

Category:DfT Category F2 stations

Category:Former Cambrian Railway stations

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1867

Category:Railway stations served by Transport for Wales Rail

Category:Aberdyfi