Pembrey and Burry Port railway station

Pembrey and Burry Port

Welsh: Pen-bre a Phorth Tywyn
National Rail
General information
LocationBurry Port, Carmarthenshire
Wales
Coordinates51°41′02″N 4°14′53″W / 51.684°N 4.248°W / 51.684; -4.248
Grid referenceSN447007
Managed byTransport for Wales
Platforms2
Other information
Station codePBY
ClassificationDfT category F1
Passengers
2019/20Decrease 0.124 million
2020/21Decrease 22,244
2021/22Increase 76,404
2022/23Increase 92,070
2023/24Increase 0.110 million
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Pembrey and Burry Port railway station is a railway station on the West Wales line serving Pembrey and Burry Port, in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is adjacent to Burry Port's main shopping area. Pembrey is situated 1.2 miles (2 km) to the west.[1] The station is 229 miles 15 chains (368.8 km) from the zero point at London Paddington, measured via Stroud.[2]

History

View westward, towards Carmarthen in 1973

It was opened by the broad gauge South Wales Railway on 11 October 1852 when that company extended its route from Landore (Swansea) to Carmarthen.[3][4]

The South Wales Railway amalgamated with the Great Western Railway in 1863 and the broad gauge was replaced by standard gauge in 1872.[5]

Train movements are controlled from a Great Western Railway signal box opened in 1907.[6]

In 2012, Network Rail had threatened to remove the Victorian bridge due to its poor state of repair. However, a local campaign to save the bridge was successful. In January 2020, the footbridge was removed to be refurbished. It was strengthened, decorated and had a new decking added, before being reinstalled. It followed work in 2013 to add lighting to the bridge.[7]

Train services

There is an hourly service to Manchester Piccadilly via Swansea, Cardiff Central, Shrewsbury and Crewe.[8] A similar frequency operates on Sundays, but trains do not start running until late morning.

In the other direction there is an hourly service to Carmarthen, running either non-stop or stopping at Kidwelly and Ferryside, with a two-hourly extension to Milford Haven via Whitland and Haverfordwest.

There are also several daily services between Pembroke Dock and Swansea via Carmarthen and two through trains to Fishguard Harbour.

All of these services are operated by Transport for Wales.

Great Western Railway operate six daily services each way between Carmarthen and London Paddington. This saves having to travel to Swansea and change trains. On summer Saturdays an extra service runs through to Pembroke Dock. This service departs London Paddington at 08:45 and arrives at Pembroke Dock at 14:14. On Sundays, a more frequent service operates (three trains each way from early afternoon).

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Llanelli   Transport for Wales
West Wales Line 		  Kidwelly or Carmarthen
Llanelli   Great Western Railway
London - Carmarthen 		  Carmarthen

References

  1. ^ Body, G. PSL Field Guide - Railways of the Western Region, Cambridge: Patrick Stephens, 1983, p. 148.
  2. ^ Padgett, David (June 2018) [1989]. Munsey, Myles (ed.). Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western & Wales (6th ed.). Frome: Trackmaps. map 24A. ISBN 978-1-9996271-0-2.
  3. ^ Quick, M. Railway Passenger Stations in Great Britain - A Chronology. Oxford: Railway & Canal Historical Society, 2009
  4. ^ Barrie, D.S.M. A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain, Vol.12 South Wales. Newton Abbott: David & Charles, 1980, p.39.
  5. ^ Simmons, J. and Biddle, G. (eds) The Oxford Companion to British Railway History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997, p.461
  6. ^ Kay, P. Signalling Atlas and Signal Box Directory - Great Britain and Ireland. Wallasey: Signalling Record Society, 2010, p.25.
  7. ^ "Pembrey and Burry Port railway footbridge renewal 'a terrific boost'". BBC News. 13 January 2020.
  8. ^ GB eNRT 2018-19 Edition, Table 128

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