Wildmill railway station

Wildmill railway station is a railway station serving the district of Wildmill, Bridgend, South Wales. It is located on the Maesteg Line from Cardiff via Bridgend.

Wildmill

Welsh: Melin Wyllt
National Rail
General information
LocationBridgend, Bridgend
Wales
Coordinates51°31′12″N 3°34′49″W / 51.5199°N 3.5803°W / 51.5199; -3.5803
Grid referenceSS904812
Managed byTransport for Wales Rail
Platforms1
Other information
Station codeWMI
ClassificationDfT category F2
History
Original companyBritish Rail
Key dates
16 November 1992 (1992-11-16)Opened
16 November 1992Closed
12 December 1992Reopened
Passengers
2018/19Increase 27,872
2019/20Increase 28,126
2020/21Decrease 3,708
2021/22Increase 15,258
2022/23Increase 23,648
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

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The railway line between Bridgend and Maesteg had been in operation since 1866, but closed to passenger trains in 1970. Following campaigning in the 1980s and 1990s, the line reopened in 1992, with new stations in Wildmill, Sarn, Tondu, and Garth, as well as two in Maesteg (Ewenny Road and Castle Street).[1] The cost of the new stations were funded by the Mid Glamorgan County Council. Services began running to Maesteg in September, and the line was officially opened in October by Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.[2]

Wildmill station was one of the later stations to be opened,[1] and initially operated on a trial basis to gauge demand.[3] The initial opening by British Rail took place on 16 November, but the station had to be closed after just a few hours, due to the station shelter being one inch too close to the platform edge.[4] Health and Safety Executive officers also demanded changes to the overhang on the shelter roof, which was five inches too near to the end of the platform.[4] It was reopened nearly four weeks later, on 12 December 1992.[5][6]

Service

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Passenger services are operated by Transport for Wales Rail as part of the Valley Lines network for local services.

Preceding station   National Rail Following station
Bridgend   Transport for Wales
Maesteg Line
  Sarn

References

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  1. ^ a b Nifield, Phillip (28 September 1992). "Valley is back on track". South Wales Echo – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ Nifield, Phillip (28 August 1992). "Duke to flag up new rail line". South Wales Echo – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "Legal notices". South Wales Echo. 2 October 1992 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ a b Nifield, Phillip (27 November 1992). "BR bosses in blunder". South Wales Echo – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 250. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
  6. ^ "Train fare discount". South Wales Echo. 11 December 1992 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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