Severn Tunnel Junction railway station
Encyclopedia
Severn Tunnel Junction railway station is a small railway station on the western side of the Severn Tunnel
at Rogiet
, Monmouthshire
, Wales
. It lies at the junction of the South Wales Main Line
from London
and the Gloucester to Newport Line
.
Originally called Rogiet Station after the nearby village
, it was renamed after the opening of the Severn Tunnel in 1886.
The next station to the west is Newport. The next stations to the east are at Pilning
in South Gloucestershire
(through the tunnel) and nearby Caldicot
(on the Gloucester line).
, due to the large goods yard facility.
From 1924 to 1966 Severn Tunnel Junction was the terminus of a car transport service through the tunnel to Pilning. The service was made redundant by the opening of the Severn Bridge
in 1966.
As a result of reduced coal and industrial production from the mid-1980s from South Wales, and increases in fixed goods formations, Severn Tunnel Junction goods yard and locomotive depot were closed from 12 October 1987 with residual marshalling moving to Newport railway station
. After the tracks were lifted in the early 1990s, part of the site of the former goods yard was used for the toll booths for the Second Severn Crossing
.
is currently remodelling the track layout at Severn Tunnel Junction in conjunction with resignalling work, due to be completed by 2014. This will provide improved operational flexibility, reduce maintenance costs and re-instate a fourth through platform. SEWTA intends use the opportunity to improve passenger facilities at the station.
Since 4 January 2010 the new track configuration is in use. The South Wales Main Line now uses platforms 3 and 4 and Gloucester to Newport Line platforms 1 and 2. There are no rail connections between the platforms east of the station as high-speed crossovers have been provided to the west.
Severn Tunnel
The Severn Tunnel is a railway tunnel in the United Kingdom, linking South Gloucestershire in the west of England to Monmouthshire in south Wales under the estuary of the River Severn....
at Rogiet
Rogiet
Rogiet is a village and community in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, located between Caldicot and Magor, some 8 miles west of Chepstow and 11 miles east of Newport. It lies close to the M4 and M48 motorways, and the Second Severn Crossing. It is also the location of Severn Tunnel Junction railway...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, 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...
. It lies at the junction of the South Wales Main Line
South Wales Main Line
The South Wales Main Line , originally known as the London, Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway or simply as the Bristol and South Wales Direct Railway, is a branch of the Great Western Main Line in Great Britain...
from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the Gloucester to Newport Line
Gloucester to Newport Line
The Gloucester to Newport Line is a railway line that runs along the bank of the River Severn in the United Kingdom from Gloucester to Newport....
.
Originally called Rogiet Station after the nearby village
Rogiet
Rogiet is a village and community in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, located between Caldicot and Magor, some 8 miles west of Chepstow and 11 miles east of Newport. It lies close to the M4 and M48 motorways, and the Second Severn Crossing. It is also the location of Severn Tunnel Junction railway...
, it was renamed after the opening of the Severn Tunnel in 1886.
The next station to the west is Newport. The next stations to the east are at Pilning
Pilning railway station
Pilning railway station is a small railway station at Pilning, South Gloucestershire, England. It is the last station on the English side before the Severn Tunnel through to Wales....
in South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire is a unitary district in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, in South West England.-History:The district was created in 1996, when the county of Avon was abolished, by the merger of former area of the districts of Kingswood and Northavon...
(through the tunnel) and nearby Caldicot
Caldicot railway station
Caldicot railway station is a part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail and is operated by Arriva Trains Wales. Caldicot is a small town in Monmouthshire, south Wales...
(on the Gloucester line).
History
The Great Western Railway built a major goods yard at the junction, which sorted coal coming from the South Wales Valleys to the London and the Midlands; while in reverse, it sorted goods from the rest of the UK to South Wales. The station and goods yard were heavily bombed during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, due to the large goods yard facility.
From 1924 to 1966 Severn Tunnel Junction was the terminus of a car transport service through the tunnel to Pilning. The service was made redundant by the opening of the Severn Bridge
Severn Bridge
The Severn Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Severn between South Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol, England, and Monmouthshire in South Wales, via Beachley, a peninsula between the River Severn and River Wye estuary. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and...
in 1966.
As a result of reduced coal and industrial production from the mid-1980s from South Wales, and increases in fixed goods formations, Severn Tunnel Junction goods yard and locomotive depot were closed from 12 October 1987 with residual marshalling moving to Newport railway station
Newport railway station
Newport railway station is the 3rd busiest railway station in Wales , situated in Newport city centre. It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail and is operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although First Great Western and CrossCountry also provide services...
. After the tracks were lifted in the early 1990s, part of the site of the former goods yard was used for the toll booths for the Second Severn Crossing
Second Severn Crossing
The Second Severn Crossing is a bridge which carries the M4 motorway over the River Severn between England and Wales, inaugurated on 5 June 1996 by HRH The Prince of Wales to augment the traffic capacity of the original Severn Bridge built in 1966...
.
Current Developments
Network RailNetwork Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
is currently remodelling the track layout at Severn Tunnel Junction in conjunction with resignalling work, due to be completed by 2014. This will provide improved operational flexibility, reduce maintenance costs and re-instate a fourth through platform. SEWTA intends use the opportunity to improve passenger facilities at the station.
Since 4 January 2010 the new track configuration is in use. The South Wales Main Line now uses platforms 3 and 4 and Gloucester to Newport Line platforms 1 and 2. There are no rail connections between the platforms east of the station as high-speed crossovers have been provided to the west.
Services
External links
- Monmouthshire Railway Society for Severn Tunnel Junction from National RailNational RailNational Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
of Severn Tunnel Junction - Historic pictures of Severn Tunnel Junction