Llandovery | |
---|---|
Welsh: Llanymddyfri | |
Location | |
Place | Llandovery |
Local authority | Carmarthenshire |
Grid reference | SN763345 |
Operations | |
Station code | LLV |
Managed by | Arriva Trains Wales |
Number of platforms | 2 |
DfT category | F1 |
Live arrivals/departures, station information and onward connections from National Rail Enquiries |
|
Annual rail passenger usage* | |
2011/12 | 20,100 |
2012/13 | 17,628 |
2013/14 | 16,964 |
2014/15 | 18,890 |
2015/16 | 17,024 |
History | |
Key dates | Opened 1858 |
National Rail – UK railway stations | |
* Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Llandovery from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year. | |
Llandovery railway station serves the market town of Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. The station is on the Heart of Wales Line 42 miles (68 km) north east of Swansea and is located at Tywi Avenue.
It was opened by the independent Vale of Towy Railway company in 1858 as the terminus of a branch from Llandeilo, although the VoTR was soon leased by the Llanelly Railway (which had built the route northwards from Llanelli in stages between 1833 and 1852). The Llanelly company in turn soon became part of the GWR. The LNWR's Central Wales Extension Railway arrived from the north a decade later to complete the through route between Craven Arms and Swansea, with the LNWR and GWR taking joint control of the Llandovery to Llandeilo section.
The station sits at the bottom of an 8 1⁄2 miles (13.7 km) descent from the line's southern summit at Sugar Loaf tunnel and until August 1964, a locomotive shed was in operation here to house the engines used for assisting northbound trains (the ruling gradient on this section being 1 in 60).
All trains serving the station are operated by Arriva Trains Wales, who also manage it.
There is a passing loop and level crossing (of the A40 road) at the station, but the signal box that formerly operated them was closed in 1986. The token instruments for the single line and crossing barriers are both operated by the train crew under the supervision of the signaller at Pantyffynnon. The loop had been temporarily decommissioned between 2008 & 2010, but is in use again after the automatic point machines were renewed in June 2010.