St. Athan railway station

St Athan
Location
Place St Athan
Area Vale of Glamorgan
Coordinates 51°24′29″N 3°27′33″W / 51.4080°N 3.4591°W / 51.4080; -3.4591Coordinates: 51°24′29″N 3°27′33″W / 51.4080°N 3.4591°W / 51.4080; -3.4591
Operations
Original company Great Western Railway
Platforms 2
History
1 September 1939 opened as St Athan Halt
3 May 1943 renamed St Athan
15 June 1964 closed
Disused railway stations in the United Kingdom
Closed railway stations in Britain
A B C D–F G H–J K–L M–O P–R S T–V W–Z
UK Railways portal

St Athan railway station was a railway station in South Wales.

Opening

When RAF St Athan opened in the late 1930s, it caused the Vale of Glamorgan Line to experience a much-needed surge in traffic.[1] The nearest station was Gileston. Whilst this was convenient for the eastern area of the base, the western part was poorly served.[2] This caused the Great Western Railway to open a new halt on the line. Despite its name, it was over two miles away from St Athan. In 1943, the halt was upgraded to a station to reflect its growing importance. However, many local people still referred to it as 'the halt'.[3]

Description

St Athan was located to the east of a bridge which carried the former main road between Llantwit Major and Barry. The station occupied a very cramped position in a cutting. The booking office was at road level and was linked to both platforms below by long ramps. Each platform had a wooden shelter.[4]

Closure

The station closed in 1964 when passenger services were withdrawn on the line. Although they were restored in 2005, there is no longer any station at St Athan.

Preceding station Disused railways Following station
Gileston   Great Western Railway
Vale of Glamorgan Line
  Llantwit Major

Notes

  1. Chapman 1998, p. 79
  2. Chapman 1998, p. 79
  3. Chapman 1998, p. 80
  4. Chapman 1998, p. 147

References

Chapman, Colin (1998) The Vale of Glamorgan Railway The Oakwood Press

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