Radyr railway station
Encyclopedia
Radyr railway station is a railway station serving the Radyr
area of Cardiff
. It is located at the foot of the hill at the eastern edge of the village, alongside the River Taff
and adjacent to the Taff Trail
.
in 1863. originally there were three lines running south from the station, and two north:
After the Beeching Axe
cut the Coryton and X, and the Cardiff City line became freight only, and the down turn in coal traffic; the sidings were greatly rationalised and became a permanent way depot. The platforms were also rationalised, from five to two, one up and one down.
Redesigned as a commuter station in 1998, major renovations took place, resulting in the two freight lines being replaced by a third platform, eliminating the problem of congestion. Also, a new ticket office was built and modern shelters replaced the old waiting area. These renovations coincided with the upgrades along the Taff Main Line, where the most of the track was replaced between Cardiff and Pontypridd, and the old-fashioned semaphore signals were replaced with modern, colour light signals.
These renovation allowed the last of the old sidings to be removed, redeveloped for parking and as a housing developments.
. Platform 1 is used for trains heading towards on the Rhondda
and Merthyr
lines. Platforms 2 and 3 are used both for trains heading away from Cardiff and as a terminus for the City
line. The majority of the trains stopping at Radyr run on the Merthyr and Rhondda lines.
The car park is located on the opposite side of the rails to Platform 3. The station is not accessible to the disabled as a bridge is required to access all three platforms. Platform 1 is also accessible from a road that passes under the rails close to the car park entrance, up a flight of stairs and past the old waiting shelter. However, the proximity of the car park and ticket office to the aerial bridge has left this route largely disused.
The ticket office is manned during peak morning hours. Travel time into is 15 minutes on all lines, with trains on the Rhondda
and Merthyr
lines running approximately every 15 minutes.
In July 2007, members of the Radyr Comprehensive Green Flag Committee formally adopted the station and now frequently check that the station is clean and that all amenities are working. This link ties in with a community response to ensure that railway crime (such as train robbery
) is stamped out.
Radyr
Radyr is an outer suburb of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The suburb is situated in the west of the city, although it was originally a separate village, and is located around 5 miles north west of Cardiff city centre. According to 2009 estimates, the suburb has a population of 6,000...
area of 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...
. It is located at the foot of the hill at the eastern edge of the village, alongside the River Taff
River Taff
The River Taff is a large river in Wales. It rises as two rivers in the Brecon Beacons — the Taf Fechan and the Taf Fawr — before joining to form the Taff north of Merthyr Tydfil...
and adjacent to the Taff Trail
Taff Trail
The Taff Trail is a popular walking and cycle path that runs for between Cardiff Bay and Brecon in Wales. It is named so because it follows the course of the River Taff...
.
History
Radyr was originally a major railway junction and sidings for freight trains used in the industries located in the Glamorgan valleys. It was first opened by the 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...
in 1863. originally there were three lines running south from the station, and two north:
- South: Coryton LineCoryton LineThe Coryton Line is a commuter railway line in Cardiff from the city centre to Heath, Birchgrove, Rhiwbina, Whitchurch and Coryton.The line is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales as part of the Valley Lines network. ATW replaced the previous franchise, Wales & Borders Trains in December...
, Taff mainline, Cardiff City LineCardiff City LineThe City Line is a commuter railway line in Cardiff that runs from Coryton to Radyr via Cardiff Central. Regular passenger services on this route started in 1987. Passenger trains run from Monday to Saturday. The line is also used as a diversionary route for trains to Merthyr, Aberdare and... - North: Taff mainline,
After the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
cut the Coryton and X, and the Cardiff City line became freight only, and the down turn in coal traffic; the sidings were greatly rationalised and became a permanent way depot. The platforms were also rationalised, from five to two, one up and one down.
Redevelopment
In 1987, the City Line was reopened as a passenger line. This caused Radyr to become a major bottleneck, as the terminating trains coming off the line blocked the down platform, and delays along the line to the valleys were inevitable.Redesigned as a commuter station in 1998, major renovations took place, resulting in the two freight lines being replaced by a third platform, eliminating the problem of congestion. Also, a new ticket office was built and modern shelters replaced the old waiting area. These renovations coincided with the upgrades along the Taff Main Line, where the most of the track was replaced between Cardiff and Pontypridd, and the old-fashioned semaphore signals were replaced with modern, colour light signals.
These renovation allowed the last of the old sidings to be removed, redeveloped for parking and as a housing developments.
Present
Today, the station has three platforms, all operated by Arriva Trains WalesArriva 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...
. Platform 1 is used for trains heading towards on the Rhondda
Rhondda Line
The Rhondda Line is a commuter railway line in South Wales from Cardiff to Treherbert. The line follows the Merthyr Line as far as Pontypridd, where it then diverges to continue along the Rhondda Valley.The places served by the line are listed below:...
and Merthyr
Merthyr Line
The Merthyr Line is a commuter railway line in South Wales from central Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. The line is part of the Cardiff urban rail network, known as the Valley Lines...
lines. Platforms 2 and 3 are used both for trains heading away from Cardiff and as a terminus for the City
Cardiff City Line
The City Line is a commuter railway line in Cardiff that runs from Coryton to Radyr via Cardiff Central. Regular passenger services on this route started in 1987. Passenger trains run from Monday to Saturday. The line is also used as a diversionary route for trains to Merthyr, Aberdare and...
line. The majority of the trains stopping at Radyr run on the Merthyr and Rhondda lines.
The car park is located on the opposite side of the rails to Platform 3. The station is not accessible to the disabled as a bridge is required to access all three platforms. Platform 1 is also accessible from a road that passes under the rails close to the car park entrance, up a flight of stairs and past the old waiting shelter. However, the proximity of the car park and ticket office to the aerial bridge has left this route largely disused.
The ticket office is manned during peak morning hours. Travel time into is 15 minutes on all lines, with trains on the Rhondda
Rhondda Line
The Rhondda Line is a commuter railway line in South Wales from Cardiff to Treherbert. The line follows the Merthyr Line as far as Pontypridd, where it then diverges to continue along the Rhondda Valley.The places served by the line are listed below:...
and Merthyr
Merthyr Line
The Merthyr Line is a commuter railway line in South Wales from central Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. The line is part of the Cardiff urban rail network, known as the Valley Lines...
lines running approximately every 15 minutes.
In July 2007, members of the Radyr Comprehensive Green Flag Committee formally adopted the station and now frequently check that the station is clean and that all amenities are working. This link ties in with a community response to ensure that railway crime (such as train robbery
Train robbery
Train robbery is a type of robbery, in which the goal is to steal money or other valuables being carried aboard trains.-History:Train robberies were more common in the past than today, and often occurred in the American Old West. Trains carrying payroll shipments were a major target...
) is stamped out.