Pontyclun Railway Station

Pontyclun Railway station old picture
Pontyclun Railway station

Pontyclun station first opened on 18th June 1850 as Llantrissant for Cowbridge, part of the South Wales Railway between Chepstow and Swansea. It was a major station, with two central through platforms and bays for branch lines.

The station helped develop local industry and commerce such as the Ely Tinplate works, The Pipeworks, and Steam Joinery Company based around Pontyclun. It serviced local mines like the Bute Haematite and Mwyndy Iron ore works.

Over the years, the station grew into an important junction:

  • 1860: The Ely Valley Railway opened to Tonyrefail, with passenger services from 1865
  • 1862: A branch line opened to Brofiskin Colliery to serve local iron ore mines
  • 1864: The Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway opened, including a passenger route to Pontypridd
  • 1865: The Cowbridge Railway opened a terminus adjacent to the main station, offering passenger services into the Vale of Glamorgan.

As traffic increased, engine sheds were added in 1872 and replaced with bigger sheds and a turntable in 1900. The station name was simplified to Llantrisant around 1866, though as the town grew there was debate by 1907 about changing it to Pontyclun.

Over the years many of the railway companies using the station merged until finally the Great Western Railway merged with the Taff Vale Railway in 1922. The station was then completely rebuilt with two new central platforms, reopening in 1925. 

Decline set in after World War II, with the Cowbridge line closing in 1951, the Pontypridd line in 1952, and the Tonyrefail route in 1958. The station itself closed in 1964 as part of the “Beeching cuts”. The lines remained open for coal and mineral traffic until 1984.

It was nearly 30 years before the station reopened as Pontyclun on 28th September 1992, rebuilt by British Rail and Mid Glamorgan Council.

It is now owned by Network Rail with services run by Transport for Wales.

For more information about the history of the railways in Pontyclun you can visit this site

There are 3 “historic” pubs near to the station

Great Western Railway boundary marker
The Brunel Arms

The Brunel

This building became a pub around the 1980s. Prior to this it had been the Pontyclun Social Club and before that the GWR Restaurant for the railway staff

An interesting reminder of the history of the station can be found by the pub. If you look closely you can see an old boundary marker from the Great Western Railway days.

The Bute Arms

The Bute Arms

At the junction of the approach and Cowbridge Rd stands the Bute Arms. Named after Lord Bute, a major landowner in the area, famous for his local works and owning most of Cardiff docks.

The current building is from early in the 20th Century having replaced an earlier pub of the same name which had been built further along Llantrisant Road around 1850

It now houses a restaurant, fishmongers and Fish and Chip shop.

The Windsor circa 2014

The Windsor Arms

This is the oldest of the three pubs dating from around 1850. In 1851 the landlord was John Matthews of St Fagans.

During its heyday the Windsor Arms arranged carriage trips around the area including to Hensol and Talygarn grounds for visitors to Pontyclun. At the rear of the premises were stables for the horses.

For more information about the history of the community of Pontyclun please visit our online museum