Llandovery railway station
Encyclopedia
Llandovery railway station serves the market town
of Llandovery
, Carmarthenshire
, Wales
. The station is on the Heart of Wales Line
68 km (42.3 mi) north east of Swansea
and is located at Tywi Avenue.
It was opened by the independent Vale of Towy Railway company in 1858 as the terminus of a branch from Llandeilo
, although the VoTR was soon leased by the Llanelly Railway (which had built the route northwards from Llanelli
in stages between 1833 and 1852). The Llanelly company in turn soon became part of the GWR
. The LNWR's Central Wales Extension Railway arrived from the north a decade later to complete the through route between Craven Arms
and Swansea
, with the LNWR and GWR taking joint control of the Llandovery to Llandeilo section.
All trains serving the station are operated by Arriva Trains Wales
.
There is a passing loop
and level crossing
at the station, but the signal box
that formerly operated them was closed in 1986. The token
instruments for the single line and crossing are both operated by the train crew under the supervision of the signaller at Pantyffynnon
. The loop is in use again after the point machines were renewed in June 2010.
Refurbished station buildings were opened by Prince Charles
in June 2011, some 19 years after they were closed.
from Monday to Saturday, and two services on Sundays.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Llandovery
Llandovery
Llandovery is a market town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the River Tywi and the A40 road.The town is served by Llandovery railway station, where there is a park and ride to Llanelli and Shrewsbury via the Heart of Wales Line...
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The station is on the Heart of Wales Line
Heart of Wales Line
The Heart of Wales Line is a railway line running from Craven Arms in Shropshire to Llanelli in South Wales. It runs, as the name suggests, through some of the heartlands of Wales. It serves a number of rural centres en route, including several once fashionable spa towns, including Llandrindod Wells...
68 km (42.3 mi) north east of Swansea
Swansea railway station
Swansea railway station is a railway station that serves Swansea, Wales. The station is one of four in the City and County of Swansea and is the fourth busiest in Wales after Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street and Newport.-History:...
and is located at Tywi Avenue.
It was opened by the independent Vale of Towy Railway company in 1858 as the terminus of a branch from Llandeilo
Llandeilo railway station
Llandeilo railway station serves the small town of Llandeilo, West Wales. The station is 50 km north east of Swansea on the Heart of Wales Line....
, although the VoTR was soon leased by the Llanelly Railway (which had built the route northwards from Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
in stages between 1833 and 1852). The Llanelly company in turn soon became part of the GWR
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
. The LNWR's Central Wales Extension Railway arrived from the north a decade later to complete the through route between Craven Arms
Craven Arms railway station
Craven Arms railway station serves the small town of Craven Arms in Shropshire, England. Until 1974 it was known as "Craven Arms and Stokesay", named after the nearby coaching inn and the historic settlement of Stokesay to the south...
and Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, with the LNWR and GWR taking joint control of the Llandovery to Llandeilo section.
All trains serving the station are operated by Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
.
There is a passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
and level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
at the station, but the signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
that formerly operated them was closed in 1986. The token
Token (railway signalling)
In railway signalling, a token is a physical object which a locomotive driver is required to have or see before entering onto a particular section of single track. The token is clearly endorsed with the name of the section it belongs to...
instruments for the single line and crossing are both operated by the train crew under the supervision of the signaller at Pantyffynnon
Pantyffynnon railway station
Pantyffynnon railway station is a railway station serving the village of Pantyffynnon, in Carmarthenshire, West Wales. It is situated on the Heart of Wales Line at its junction with the branch lines to Brynamman and Abernant.- History :...
. The loop is in use again after the point machines were renewed in June 2010.
Refurbished station buildings were opened by Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
in June 2011, some 19 years after they were closed.
Services
There are four trains a day in each direction southbound to Swansea and northbound to ShrewsburyShrewsbury railway station
Shrewsbury railway station is the railway station serving Shrewsbury, county town of Shropshire, England. It is the only remaining railway station in the town; Shrewsbury Abbey, as well as other small stations around the town, having long closed. The station was built in 1848 and has been extended...
from Monday to Saturday, and two services on Sundays.