Penhelig railway station

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
Penhelig

Welsh: Penhelyg
National Rail
General information
LocationAberdyfi, Gwynedd
Wales
Coordinates52°32′46″N 4°02′06″W / 52.546°N 4.035°W / 52.546; -4.035
Grid referenceSN620961
Managed byTransport for Wales
Platforms1
Other information
Station codePHG[1]
ClassificationDfT category F2
Key dates
8 May 1933opened
Passengers
2020/21Decrease 686
2021/22Increase 3,510
2022/23Increase 6,050
2023/24Increase 6,584
2024/25Increase 8,192
Location
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Penhelig railway station (Welsh: Penhelyg) serves the eastern outskirts of the seaside resort of Aberdyfi in Gwynedd, Wales. Its situation is unusual, being located on a short length of sharply curved single track between two tunnels. It is on the Cambrian Line between Aberdovey and Dovey Junction, 84 miles 8 chains (135.3 km) from Whitchurch, measured via Oswestry (the original line diverging at Welshpool).[2]

Although named after the hamlet of Penhelig, it is actually closer to some parts of Aberdyfi.[3]

History

Although the line through the current station opened in 1863,[4] the station itself was opened by the Great Western Railway in 1933.[5] This was due to complaints from locals about the distance to the station at Aberdovey.[6]

The station was originally named Penhelig Halt, but was renamed on 6 May 1968.[7]

Between 1 January and 30 March 2018, the station was closed as Network Rail replaced the previous timber platform with an improved structure coated with glass reinforced plastic. This is intended to reduce the need for maintenance work. The station lighting was also improved with the addition of a dot matrix display for train departures, as well as improvements on the tunnels either side of the station. During the closure, Arriva Trains Wales provided a taxi service to those wishing to use the station.[8]

Facilities

There are no ticketing facilities at the station, and it is unstaffed. The station features a traditional GWR pagoda shelter, which includes original wooden seating, and provides good shelter from the weather. It was restored during the station's reconstruction in 2018 featuring a fresh coat of paint, new flooring, windows and roof. There is also no car park, but a bus shelter is located outside the station, on the opposite side of the road.[9][10] As there are no facilities to purchase tickets, passengers must buy one in advance, or from the guard on the train.

Passenger volume

Passenger volume at Penhelig[11]
2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Entries and exits 106,858 108,745 91,975 95,664 124,106 122,404 122,322 131,910 142,014 143,786 159,684 162,852 156,252 164,564 159,854 168,668 35,110 127,012 142,272 158,352 162,898

The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.

Services

The station has eight services each day, west to Pwllheli and east to Machynlleth and Shrewsbury. Trains stop on request.[12]

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Aberdovey   Transport for Wales
Cambrian Coast Line		   Dovey Junction
  Historical railways  
Aberdovey
Line and station open		   Great Western Railway
Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway		   Dovey Junction
Line and station open

References

  1. "Railway Codes". railwaycodes.org.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  2. Brailsford, Martyn, ed. (2023). Railway Track Diagrams; 3: Western & Wales (7th ed.). Frome: TRACKmaps. pp. .page. ISBN 978 1999627164.
  3. Wills 2014, p. 114.
  4. Christiansen & Miller 1971, p. 69.
  5. Johnson, Peter (6 June 2013). The Cambrian Railways : a new history. Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 9780860936442.
  6. Vic Mitchell and Keith Smith, Machynlleth to Barmouth, Middleton Press, Midhurst, 2009, ISBN 978 1 906008 54 3, caption to plate V
  7. Quick 2023, p. 361.
  8. "Residents urged to 'drop-in' to find out more about upgrade of Penhelig Station". Network Rail. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  9. "Station Facilities". National Rail Enquiries. National Rail. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  10. "Penhelig Station | Train Times | Transport for Wales". tfw.wales. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  11. "Estimates of station usage | ORR Data Portal". dataportal.orr.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  12. eNRT May 2026 Edition, Table 075 (Network Rail)

Bibliography