Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway
Encyclopedia
The Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway was a railway located in south Wales
which broadly ran between Pontypridd
and Llantrisant
. It opened to freight traffic in 1863 and to passenger traffic in 1875. Whilst it was technically an independent company it was regarded as having strong links to the existing Taff Vale Railway
and indeed in 1889 it formally amalgamated with this much larger concern. The section between Llantwit Fardre
and Trefforest
closed in 1964..
Tonteg Halt railway station
existed on the Taff Value line lower down from the Barry railway's Tonteg Junction. This was closed around 1930 and resituated at Tonteg Junction and the former station's name of Tonteg Halt was kept. The various junctions to the north of Tonteg Halt were built at different times as the rationalisation of the tracks through this area was made around 1930. See the article on Tonteg Halt railway station
for further details.
Beddau Halt was originally named World's end and is not to be confused with Aber station
in Caerphilly which was originally called Beddau Halt.
The line also had a number of branch lines subsequently built inlucding a branch to serve the Cwm Coking Works, and this was the last section of the line to close (in 1987). Other branches lead across Llantrisant Common and the Treferig Branch (Common Junction).
The line between Llantrisant, modern day Pontyclun station, and Cwm is technically mothballed, though no trains have run since 1987. Track and a level crossing exists on the A470 Talbot Green bypass though no physical connection remains to the South Wales Main Line at the modern Pontyclun station exists. This section of line is considered for reopening for passenger traffic to Beddau. Realignment of the track here was made when the A470 Talbot Green by-pass was constructed, the level crossing was formerly on the Cowbridge Road.
Along the line were a number of tramways serving minor coal mines - these could be found particularly at Church Village to the south of the station and at Llantwit Fardre.
In 1952 a new junction and line was built to Cwm replacing the older, then closed junction.
The line from here to Mwyndy Junction on the South Wales Main Line was in use until 1987 though regular freight stopped in 1984.
line at Cardiff
(via Rhiwsaeson village, Creigiau
and Pentrebane
). It carried traffic from both the Creigiau quarry and the Tor Y Coed Colliery. The line was taken out of use in 1964..
Passing close to Creigiau railway station
there was a junction here with the Barry line for a short period during the 19th century.
. Extensive freight also ran over the length of this line. Typical journey times from Pontypridd to Llantrisant were around 30 to 35 minutes.
Over the Waterhall branch between Common Junction and Waterhall Junction typically 4 or 5 freight services in each direction each day with various destinations - at least two of there started/ended at Cwm Colliery.
, Wenvoe and Cadoxton to Barry was called the Barry Railway; the details of this line are explained in a separate entry. The Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway "joined" with the Barry Railway in 1930 when Tonteg Halt was moved to create an interchange station at Tonteg Junction.
The other point where the lines met was at Creigiau station, although while running close, the Waterhall branch was not physically connected to the Barry line at this point except for a short period in the 19th century when a junction existed before Creigau station allowing trains to run from the Waterhall branch into Creigau station.
The 1912-1915 map of the area shows clearly the separation of the Barry and Llantrisant lines and the location on the former Tonteg Halt station before the amalgamation of the railway companies and the reconstruction of Tonteg Halt at Tonteg Junction.
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...
which broadly ran between Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
and Llantrisant
Llantrisant
Llantrisant is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the River Ely and the Afon Clun. The town's name translates as The Parish of the Three Saints. The three saints in question are St Illtyd, St Gwynno and St...
. It opened to freight traffic in 1863 and to passenger traffic in 1875. Whilst it was technically an independent company it was regarded as having strong links to the existing Taff Vale Railway
Taff Vale Railway
The Taff Vale Railway is a railway in Glamorgan, South Wales, and is one of the oldest in Wales. It operated as an independent company from 1836 until 1922, when it became a constituent company of the Great Western Railway...
and indeed in 1889 it formally amalgamated with this much larger concern. The section between Llantwit Fardre
Llantwit Fardre
Llantwit Fardre is a large village situated on the A473, Pontypridd to Bridgend , road near the Welsh towns of Pontypridd and Llantrisant. Confusingly, Llantwit Fardre is also the name of the old parish and the community area that takes in the villages of Llantwit Fardre, Tonteg and Church...
and Trefforest
Trefforest
Treforest is a village in the south-east of Pontypridd in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales situated in the Treforest electoral ward along with the village of Glyntaff , being part of the Pontypridd Community...
closed in 1964..
Treforest to Llantrisant
The stations on the line were:-
- Tonteg Halt railway stationTonteg Halt railway stationTonteg Halt refers to two railway stations serving the township of Tonteg in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. They were located on the Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway and latterly on the Barry Railway under the Great Western Railway....
(Maes Mawr Road) until 1930, then Tonteg Halt at Tonteg Junction - Church Village railway station
- Llantwit Fardre railway stationLlantwit Fardre railway stationLlantwit Fardre was a station on the Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway.The station consisted of a single platform and station buildings. A small bridge crossed over Crown Hill to the west of the station followed by the Dyffryn Red Ash Colliery sidings and a spur to Cwm Colliery. There were...
, also known as Llantwit Dyffryn Red Ash Colliery - Beddau Halt railway stationBeddau Halt railway stationBeddau Halt railway station consisted of a single platform and shelter reached by steps leading from the road over which the line crossed. Its position was quite a distance from Beddau which limited its patronage, though all trains stopped at the station as a matter of course.-Modern Day:The...
, also known as World's end - Cross Inn railway stationCross Inn railway stationCross Inn railway station was situated on the line between and , about half a mile to the east of Llantrisant village. Typically for this line, the station had a single passenger platform a few goods sidings.-Today:...
- Llantrisant railway station
- Tonteg Halt railway station
Tonteg Halt railway station
Tonteg Halt railway station
Tonteg Halt refers to two railway stations serving the township of Tonteg in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. They were located on the Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway and latterly on the Barry Railway under the Great Western Railway....
existed on the Taff Value line lower down from the Barry railway's Tonteg Junction. This was closed around 1930 and resituated at Tonteg Junction and the former station's name of Tonteg Halt was kept. The various junctions to the north of Tonteg Halt were built at different times as the rationalisation of the tracks through this area was made around 1930. See the article on Tonteg Halt railway station
Tonteg Halt railway station
Tonteg Halt refers to two railway stations serving the township of Tonteg in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. They were located on the Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway and latterly on the Barry Railway under the Great Western Railway....
for further details.
Beddau Halt was originally named World's end and is not to be confused with Aber station
Aber railway station
Aber railway station is a railway station serving the town of Caerphilly, south Wales. It is a stop on the Rhymney Line 13 km north of Cardiff Central on the Valley Lines network....
in Caerphilly which was originally called Beddau Halt.
The line also had a number of branch lines subsequently built inlucding a branch to serve the Cwm Coking Works, and this was the last section of the line to close (in 1987). Other branches lead across Llantrisant Common and the Treferig Branch (Common Junction).
The line between Llantrisant, modern day Pontyclun station, and Cwm is technically mothballed, though no trains have run since 1987. Track and a level crossing exists on the A470 Talbot Green bypass though no physical connection remains to the South Wales Main Line at the modern Pontyclun station exists. This section of line is considered for reopening for passenger traffic to Beddau. Realignment of the track here was made when the A470 Talbot Green by-pass was constructed, the level crossing was formerly on the Cowbridge Road.
Along the line were a number of tramways serving minor coal mines - these could be found particularly at Church Village to the south of the station and at Llantwit Fardre.
Common Junction
Common Junction was a triangular junction from which led to the Treferig Branch, Castellau siding and the line across Llantrisant Common to Ynysmaerdy. Shortly after Common Junction was Waterhall Junction to the Llantrisant No.1 Railway.Cwm Colliery and Coking Works
Two spurs to the colliery sidings existed, one from nearby Beddau Halt and another from Llantwit Fardre. The latter had sidings in Llantwit which after being removed become waste land used for storing vehicles and recently a housing estate.In 1952 a new junction and line was built to Cwm replacing the older, then closed junction.
The line from here to Mwyndy Junction on the South Wales Main Line was in use until 1987 though regular freight stopped in 1984.
Treferig Branch
Diverging at Common Junction this was a short freight line built to Glyn Colliery near Tonyefail. Approximately 1 mile from Common junction was the Castellau siding built to serve some minor mining concerns and later a sawmill near Beddau.Brofiscin Branch
Diverging at Maesaraul Junction along with the Ynysmaerdy branch, this was a short freight line to a quarry in Groes-faen.Llantrisant No.1 Railway (Waterhall Branch Line)
This was primarily a goods line (opened 1886) that left the LTV near Cross-inn and ran in a south-east direction to the main Taff Vale RailwayTaff Vale Railway
The Taff Vale Railway is a railway in Glamorgan, South Wales, and is one of the oldest in Wales. It operated as an independent company from 1836 until 1922, when it became a constituent company of the Great Western Railway...
line at Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
(via Rhiwsaeson village, Creigiau
Creigiau railway station
Creigiau railway station was a former railway station in Creigiau in south Wales. It was on the Barry Railway between Efail Isaf and Wenvoe, which ran broadly north-south through Creigiau. To the east of the station, a second former line headed north-west towards Llantrisant, and also south-east...
and Pentrebane
Pentrebane
Pentrebane is a district in the west of Cardiff, capital of Wales.Pentrebane sits on the top of the hill overlooking the adjacent suburbs of Fairwater and Llandaff, and on the cusp of St. Fagans and the Vale of Glamorgan...
). It carried traffic from both the Creigiau quarry and the Tor Y Coed Colliery. The line was taken out of use in 1964..
Passing close to Creigiau railway station
Creigiau railway station
Creigiau railway station was a former railway station in Creigiau in south Wales. It was on the Barry Railway between Efail Isaf and Wenvoe, which ran broadly north-south through Creigiau. To the east of the station, a second former line headed north-west towards Llantrisant, and also south-east...
there was a junction here with the Barry line for a short period during the 19th century.
Services and Timetables
The 1931 timetables show 11 passenger services in each direction between Pontypridd and Llantrisant operated by auto coachGWR Autocoach
The GWR Autocoach is a type of coach that was used by the Great Western Railway for push-pull trains powered by a steam locomotive. The distinguishing design feature of an autocoach is the driving cab at one end, allowing the driver to control the train without needing to be located in the cab of...
. Extensive freight also ran over the length of this line. Typical journey times from Pontypridd to Llantrisant were around 30 to 35 minutes.
Over the Waterhall branch between Common Junction and Waterhall Junction typically 4 or 5 freight services in each direction each day with various destinations - at least two of there started/ended at Cwm Colliery.
Relationship with the Barry Railway
The line from Trehafod via Treforest High-level, Tonteg Junction, CreigiauCreigiau railway station
Creigiau railway station was a former railway station in Creigiau in south Wales. It was on the Barry Railway between Efail Isaf and Wenvoe, which ran broadly north-south through Creigiau. To the east of the station, a second former line headed north-west towards Llantrisant, and also south-east...
, Wenvoe and Cadoxton to Barry was called the Barry Railway; the details of this line are explained in a separate entry. The Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway "joined" with the Barry Railway in 1930 when Tonteg Halt was moved to create an interchange station at Tonteg Junction.
The other point where the lines met was at Creigiau station, although while running close, the Waterhall branch was not physically connected to the Barry line at this point except for a short period in the 19th century when a junction existed before Creigau station allowing trains to run from the Waterhall branch into Creigau station.
The 1912-1915 map of the area shows clearly the separation of the Barry and Llantrisant lines and the location on the former Tonteg Halt station before the amalgamation of the railway companies and the reconstruction of Tonteg Halt at Tonteg Junction.