Tiny train station that’s one of the oldest in the UK to launch brand new routes

A TINY station in the UK with just one train route a week has revealed plans to add new destinations to its service.

Train journeys in Cardiff are set to get a lot easier when Cardiff Bay Railway Station changes its timetable later this month.

The Welsh station was built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1840 and was part of the Taff Vale Railway, which ferried coal from the mines in Merthyr Tydfil to the city’s docks.

First known as Cardiff Bute Docks station, the tiny train station was renamed twice during the 20^th century.

It was renamed Cardiff Bay Railway Station in 1994, with its line taking passengers to the city’s waterfront district.

Despite being one of the busiest train stations in Wales, serving around 1.5million passengers per year before the Covid-19 pandemic, Cardiff Bay Railway Station was named one of the UK’s most endangered buildings in 2016.

For the last two decades, the station has remained popular with residents because it provides a key shuttle service to Cardiff Queen Street Station near the city centre.

The single-track journey between the two stations takes just four minutes to complete.

Later this month, the tiny train station will be given a renewed boost when new destinations are added onto its roster.

Welsh-owned Transport for Wales will launch a brand-new train service between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay.

The train will stop at several stations along its route, including destinations like Radyr and Llandaf.

Five trains will run every hour on the new line, with the frequency set to increase to six trains per hour when the single line track is expanded next year.

The train route will also become electrified as part of the huge renovation project, with an extra platform also being built at the station.

Last January, James Price, Transport for Wales Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Bay Line transformation project is an important part of the South Wales Metro and we’re delighted to be able to begin construction work on the brand-new station in Butetown, as well as important upgrades to Cardiff Bay station.

“From 2024 we’ll be providing a smoother, greener, modern public transport service which will open up a range of opportunities for people living in Butetown and the wider Cardiff Bay area.

“We’re keen to continue working collaboratively with local residents through workshops and drop-in sessions, where people will be able to get more information and ask questions about the Bay Line transformation.”

The expansion at Cardiff Bay Railway Station is part of a wider £1billion investment being pumped into the railway network around the Welsh capital.

There are plenty of other new train services slated to launch across the UK.

Other new train stations

One of those is Cambridge South Station, which is slated to open in 2025.

The brand-new train station is currently being built next to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Construction work started on the site in January 2023 after plans were approved by the Department for Transport one month earlier.

The total project is estimated to cost £183.6million, with the two-storey station set to include four platforms, a ticket office and lifts.

There will also be retail space, pedestrian access and room for 1,000 bicycles.

Several brand-new train stations will open across the West Midlands, including Moseley Village Train Station.

The new station will provide regular train services into Birmingham New Street.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland will also benefit from a huge new transport hub when Belfast Grand Central eventually opens.

And the UK’s tiniest train line is between Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction, a mere 0.8miles that takes just three minutes and costs £2.

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