General information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Location | Llangennech, Carmarthenshire Wales | ||||
Coordinates | 51°41′28″N4°04′44″W / 51.691°N 4.079°W | ||||
Grid reference | SN563012 | ||||
Operated by | Transport for Wales | ||||
Platforms | 2 | ||||
Tracks | 2 | ||||
Train operators | Transport for Wales | ||||
Construction | |||||
Bicycle facilities | 4 Sheffield stands | ||||
Other information | |||||
Status | Unstaffed | ||||
Station code | LLH | ||||
Classification | DfT category F2 | ||||
Website | nationalrail | ||||
History | |||||
Opened | c. 1840 | ||||
Pre-grouping | Llanelly Railway and Dock Company | ||||
Post-grouping | Great Western Railway | ||||
Key dates | |||||
2020 | Freight train derailment | ||||
Passengers | |||||
2019/20 | 3,718 | ||||
2020/21 | 36 | ||||
2021/22 | 924 | ||||
2022/23 | 1,868 | ||||
2023/24 | 2,760 | ||||
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Llangennech railway station is a railway station in the village of Llangennech. It lies on the Heart of Wales line with services operated by Transport for Wales running to and from Swansea and Shrewsbury.
Llangennech station is located at street level about half a mile away from the centre of the village. It is one of two stations (neighbouring Bynea being the other) located on the double track portion of the route that is shared with the Swansea District Line.
Discussions to build a railway in Llangennech began as early as 1830. [1] The station opened c. 1840. [2] It initially served the local collieries by offering a route to the Llanelli Dock for export. [3]
The station is unstaffed and has no permanent buildings other than basic shelters on each platform. Passengers wishing to travel must buy tickets on the train or in advance. Amenities are limited to the standard CIS display,customer help point and payphone (the latter two at the main entrance). The platforms are linked by a barrow crossing,which is not recommended for use by disabled travellers without assistance. [4]
In 2016,The Welsh Government funded the installation of reinforced glass fibre 'humps' on the platforms to improve access for wheelchair and pushchair users onto and off trains. [5]
All trains serving the station are operated by Transport for Wales. There are five trains a day in each direction through to Swansea and Shrewsbury) from Monday to Saturday,plus a fifth Monday to Friday a.m peak service from Carmarthen to Llandovery and back to Swansea and one late evening service from Swansea to Llandovery and back;two services each way call on Sundays. [6] This is a request stop,whereby passengers have to give a hand signal to the approaching train driver to board or notify the guard when they board that they wish to alight from the train there.
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Bynea | Transport for Wales Heart of Wales Line | Pontarddulais |
Freight services operated by DB Cargo to the Trostre Steelworks in Llanelli from Margam pass Llangennech. [7]
The proposal of the West Wales Parkway station in Felindre,Swansea has led to discussions regarding the opening of the Swansea District line for passenger services. Llangennech station sits on the line and the possibility of direct services to and from Cardiff Central have been discussed for the future. [8]
Cardiff Central is a major station on the South Wales Main Line. It is located in the capital of Wales,Cardiff,144 miles 77 chains (233 km) down the line from London Paddington,via Bristol Parkway,and 170 miles 30 chains (274 km) measured via Stroud. It is one of the city's two urban rail network hubs,along with Cardiff Queen Street. Opened in 1850 as Cardiff station,it was renamed Cardiff General in 1924 and then Cardiff Central in 1973.
The Heart of Wales line is a railway line running from Craven Arms in Shropshire to Llanelli in southwest Wales. It serves a number of rural centres,including the nineteenth-century spa towns Llandrindod Wells,Llangammarch Wells and Llanwrtyd Wells. At Builth Road,two miles (3.3 km) from the town of Builth Wells,the line crosses the former route of the earlier Mid Wales Railway,which closed in 1962.
Newport is the second-busiest railway station in Wales. It is situated in Newport city centre and is 133 miles 13 chains (214.3 km) from London Paddington measured via Bristol Parkway,and 158 miles 50 chains (255.3 km) via Stroud.
Bridgend railway station is a main line station serving the town of Bridgend,south Wales. It is located approximately halfway between Cardiff Central and Swansea stations,at the point where the Maesteg Line diverges from the South Wales Main Line;it is also the western terminus of the Vale of Glamorgan Line from Cardiff. It is 190 miles 45 chains (306.7 km) measured from the zero point at London Paddington,via Stroud.
Swansea railway station serves the city of Swansea,Wales. It is sited 216 miles 7 chains (348 km) from London Paddington,via Stroud,on the National Rail network. In 2021/22,it was the third-busiest station in Wales,after Cardiff Central and Newport.
Shrewsbury railway station serves the town of Shrewsbury,in Shropshire,England. Built in 1848,it was designated a grade II listed building in 1969.
The West Wales lines are a group of railway lines from Swansea through Carmarthenshire to Pembrokeshire,West Wales. The main part runs from Swansea to Carmarthen and Whitland,where it becomes three branches to Fishguard,Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock.
Llanelli railway station is the railway station serving the town of Llanelli,Carmarthenshire,Wales. It is located on the West Wales line and the Heart of Wales line 225 miles 20 chains (362.5 km) from the zero point at London Paddington,measured via Stroud. The station and the majority of trains calling are operated by Transport for Wales.
Gowerton railway station serves the village of Gowerton,Wales. It is located at street level at the end of Station Road in Gowerton,219 miles 45 chains (353.4 km) from the zero point at London Paddington,measured via Stroud. The station is unmanned but has a ticket machine,shelters on each platform and live train running information displays.
Pantyffynnon railway station is a railway station serving the village of Pantyffynnon,in Carmarthenshire,Wales. It is situated on the Heart of Wales Line at its junction with the branch lines to Brynamman and Abernant.
Bynea railway station serves the village of Bynea near Llanelli,Carmarthenshire,Wales. Bynea station is situated close to the Millennium Coastal Park and is a convenient stop for cyclists and hikers to the coastal area. It is also the last stop on the Heart of Wales route before it joins the West Wales Line at Llandeilo Junction,to the east of Llanelli.
Pontarddulais railway station serves the town of Pontarddulais and village of Hendy in Swansea,Wales. The station is located at street level not far from the town centre and the Loughor estuary. All trains serving the station are operated by Transport for Wales.
Ammanford railway station in Ammanford,Carmarthenshire,Wales,is 12 miles (19 km) north of Swansea on the Heart of Wales Line. The station opened in 1841 as a temporary terminus of the Llanelly Railway's line to Llandeilo,making it one of the country's earlier railway stations.
Leominster railway station lies on the Welsh Marches Line,serving the town of Leominster in Herefordshire,England. It is situated 11+1⁄4 miles (18.1 km) north of Hereford. The station has two operational platforms,for northbound services via Ludlow and southbound via Hereford;in the past,it had three more for discontinued services to Worcester and Kington.
Ffairfach railway station serves the village of Ffairfach,near Llandeilo,Carmarthenshire,Wales. The station is on the Heart of Wales Line 30 miles (48 km) north east of Swansea.
Llandeilo railway station serves the town of Llandeilo,Carmarthenshire. The station is 30+3⁄4 miles (49 km) north east of Swansea on the Heart of Wales Line.
Llandovery railway station serves the market town of Llandovery,Carmarthenshire,Wales. The station is on the Heart of Wales Line 42 miles (68 km) north east of Swansea and is located at Tywi Avenue.
Llangennech is a village and community in the area of Llanelli,Carmarthenshire,Wales,which covers an area of 1,222 hectares (4.72 sq mi).
The Llanelly Railway and Dock Company was an early Welsh railway system. It opened its first short line and a wet dock at Llanelly in 1834,and soon went on to build a longer line from Llanelly to serve pits in the Amman Valley,and then on to Llandilo,reached in 1857. The Llanelly company leased and worked the Vale of Towy Railway on to Llandovery,from 1858.
On 26 August 2020 a freight train carrying diesel fuel and gas oil in tank wagons derailed at Morlais Junction,Llangennech,Carmarthenshire,Wales. Some of the derailed wagons caught fire,leading to an evacuation of people living nearby. There was widespread contamination from the spilled fuel. The clean-up operation was described by Natural Resources Wales as the most challenging since the Sea Empress oil spill in 1996. The accident was caused by defective brakes on a wagon causing an axle to seize,which in turn caused deformation of the track under the train as it travelled over a set of points. The Heart of Wales Line was closed for seven months as a result of the derailment.
Media related to Llangennech railway station at Wikimedia Commons