Morfa Mawddach railway station explained

Welsh: Morfa Mawddach|italic=no
Symbol Location:gb
Symbol:rail
Borough:Arthog, Gwynedd
Country:Wales
Coordinates:52.7077°N -4.0316°W
Grid Name:Grid reference
Manager:Transport for Wales
Platforms:1
Code:MFA
Classification:DfT category F2
Original:Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway
Pregroup:Cambrian Railways
Postgroup:Great Western Railway
Events1:Opened as Barmouth Junction
Years2:13 June 1960
Events2:Renamed Welsh: Morfa Mawddach|italic=no
Footnotes:Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Welsh: Morfa Mawddach|italic=no railway station (formerly Barmouth Junction) is an unstaffed station located on the outskirts of the village of Arthog in Gwynedd, Wales, on the Cambrian Coast line between and . Built by the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway in 1865, it was formerly the junction station for the Ruabon to Barmouth Line. Since the closure of the Ruabon to Barmouth line in 1965, it remains open, as a minor station on the Cambrian Line.

History

The station was built by the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway and opened on 3 July 1865 as Barmouth Junction. From 1899 to 1903 there was a connection with the Barmouth Junction and Arthog Tramway.

The station was host to a GWR camp coach from 1934 to 1939. A camping coach was also positioned here by the Western Region from 1956 to 1962. In 1963 the administration of camping coaches at the station was taken over by the London Midland, there were three coaches here in 1963 and 1964 and two from 1965 to 1968.

Until the 1960s there was a summer service between London Paddington and Welsh: Pwllheli|italic=no, via Birmingham Snow Hill, Shrewsbury and Welsh: Machynlleth|italic=no.

On 13 June 1960 it was renamed Welsh: Morfa Mawddach|italic=no.

Background

North of Welsh: Morfa Mawddach|italic=no the railway crosses the Welsh: [[Afon Mawddach]]|italic=no on the Barmouth Bridge.

Welsh: Morfa Mawddach|italic=no is mainly used by passengers travelling to Barmouth from south of the Welsh: Mawddach|italic=no Estuary: parking at the station and taking the train to Barmouth is often much quicker than the 20-mile road journey via Welsh: Dolgellau|italic=no. Originally a four-platform station, it is now a single platform unstaffed halt. Trains stop on request.

Welsh: Morfa Mawddach|italic=no is often quoted as an example of a notable feature of the Great Western Railway in Wales, namely its inheritance of junctions in unlikely and inconvenient locations. Other examples are,, and .[1]

The trackbed to Welsh: Dolgellau|italic=no now forms the Mawddach Trail (Welsh: Llwybr Mawddach), which officially starts at the station car park.

Facilities

The station has very few facilities. There is a payphone on the platform, but there are no toilets or help points available. There is a small waiting shelter and a car park with 20 spaces.[2]

References

Sources

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fifoot . Les . Wright . Paul . Station name: Afon Wen . disused-stations.org.uk . 21 May 2017 . 2 February 2020.
  2. Web site: National Rail Enquiries - Station facilities for Morfa Mawddach.