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{{Short description|Railway station in Swansea, Wales}} | |||
{{Infobox UK station| | |||
{{for|the station in South Australia formerly known as Swansea|Largs North railway station}} | |||
|name=Swansea | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} | |||
|other_name=Abertawe | |||
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}} | |||
|manager=] | |||
{{Infobox station | |||
|locale=] | |||
| |
| name = Swansea | ||
| native_name = {{langx|cy|Abertawe}} | |||
|code=SWA | |||
| symbol_location = gb | |||
|usage0405=1.386 | |||
| symbol = rail | |||
|platforms=4 | |||
| image = Swansea Railway Station - geograph.org.uk - 1150393.jpg | |||
|start=1850 | |||
| borough = ], ] | |||
|image=] | |||
| country = Wales | |||
| coordinates = {{coord|51.6253|-3.9409|type:railwaystation_region:GB_scale:10000|display=inline,title}} | |||
| grid_name = ] | |||
| grid_position = {{gbmapscaled|SS657936|25|SS657936}} | |||
| manager = ] | |||
| platforms = 4 | |||
| code = SWA | |||
| classification = ] C1 | |||
| original = ] | |||
| pregroup = ] | |||
| postgroup = Great Western Railway | |||
| opened = {{start date and age|1850|06|19|df=y}}<br />as ''Swansea High Street'' | |||
| years = 6 May 1968 | |||
| events = Renamed ''Swansea'' | |||
| mpassengers = {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{decrease}} 2.060 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 98,806}} | |||
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 0.469 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 17,382}} | |||
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 1.478 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 66,720}} | |||
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{increase}} 1.884 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 96,651}} | |||
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2023/24 |passengers={{increase}} 2.186 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 87,354}} | |||
| footnotes = Passenger statistics from the ] | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Swansea railway station''' serves the city of ], Wales. It is sited {{convert|216|miles|7|chain|km|0|lk=in}} from ], via {{rws|Stroud}},<ref>{{cite book |last=Padgett |first=David |editor-last=Munsey |editor-first=Myles |title=Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western & Wales |edition=6th |date=June 2018 |orig-year=1989 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Frome |isbn=978-1-9996271-0-2 |at=map 23A }}</ref> on the ] network. In 2021/22, it was the third-busiest station in Wales, after ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-news/london-waterloo-top-stops-again-overall-numbers-are-down-pre-pandemic-levels |title=London Waterloo is top of the stops again, but overall numbers are down on pre-pandemic levels |website=Office of Rail and Road |date=24 November 2022}}</ref> | |||
'''Swansea railway station''' is the ] for ], ]. It is the 4th busiest station in Wales after ], ] and ]. It is the only passenger station in the city and one of four in the county. | |||
== |
==History== | ||
{{more citations needed|date=March 2022}} | |||
To the east services operate along the ]. ] operates Intercity services to ] and ] provides the ] service to ]. Some Arriva Trains Wales services operate to ] from Swansea. | |||
] | |||
The station opened in 1850.<ref name=MacDermot>History of the Great Western Railway, E.T. MacDermot (rev. C.R. Clinker, pub. Ian Allan, 1964)</ref> It was built by the South Wales Railway, which amalgamated with the ] (GWR) in 1863;<ref name=MacDermot /> it was not originally on the South Wales Railway main line, planned to connect London with the port of Fishguard, and Swansea passengers had to change at {{rws|Landore}}, two miles to the north until at least 1879. The station has been renovated and extended several times in its lifetime – most notably in the 1880s, when the stone-built office block facing High Street, on the west side of the station, was added, and in 1925–1927 when the platforms were lengthened.<ref>Track Layout Diagrams of the GWR and BR (Western Region), R.A. Cooke (self-published)</ref> The present-day frontage block, facing Ivey Place, was completed in 1934. Nothing now remains of the original wooden station with its two platforms and galvanised iron roof. | |||
The majority of the rebuilt station remains intact, although the facilities have been reduced. The umbrella-type platform roofing which replaced the 1880s train-sheds in the 1920s is mostly intact although the canopy on platform 4 has been shortened. The number of platforms was reduced from five to four in 1973 under ] when the old platform 1 was eliminated, along with the loading bays and fish dock that once stood beyond it. The remaining platforms were renumbered at the same time, so that what were platforms 2 to 5 are now platforms 1 to 4 respectively. | |||
To the west, services operate along the ] to ], then to ], ] or ]. These services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales. | |||
On the east side of the station there was a connecting line which bypassed the platforms and ran at one time to coal tips on the North Dock (closed in 1929 and subsequently infilled) and on to a junction with the high-level line from Eastern Depot to Victoria station (closed in 1965). Part of the route of this line, alongside the station itself, is now a staff car park and the remainder, which was carried on viaducts alongside the Strand, has been obliterated by modern development. High Street goods station was on the west side of the line, just north of the passenger station. The site has been completely cleared and used for housing and also the dedicated bus road that runs from the Landore park-and-ride facility into the city centre. On the opposite side of the line were extensive carriage sidings (]), large areas of which are, as of 2014, being redeveloped as the ] IEP (]) rail service depot. | |||
Swansea is a terminus station on a spur from the main line, services arriving from east continuing west, and vice versa, turn around at Swansea station. It also serves as an interchange station between mainline services and regional services. It is one of the stations used as an interchange by passengers travelling between England and West Wales and the terminus for some of the West Wales services.<ref></ref> It is the southern terminus for most trains travelling on the ] to ].<ref></ref> | |||
There was great competition between the different railway companies in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Swansea had seven stations in 1895, owned by five different railway companies: High Street (GWR), St Thomas (Midland Railway), East Dock (GWR), Riverside (Rhondda & Swansea Bay Railway, by which it was called simply Swansea; renamed Swansea Docks by the GWR in 1924 and Riverside two years later<ref>C.R. Clinker, Clinker's Register of Closed Passenger Stations and Goods Depots in England, Wales and Scotland, 1830–1977, AvonAnglia Publications, Bristol, 1978</ref>), Victoria and Swansea Bay (both London & North Western Railway), and Rutland Street (the town terminus of the ]). Only High Street now remains in the city centre. | |||
==Facilities== | |||
The station is a terminus, standing at the end of a short branch off the ] and the ], so that all through passenger trains between the two must either reverse at Swansea or omit calling there (in practice, almost all passenger services do call there). | |||
===Toponymy=== | |||
It has four platforms, none of which are designated for exclusive use by any particular service. Rather, they are shared between train services according to availability. Intercity express trains from London almost always enter the station standard carriages first, usually at platform 2. The platforms are covered for only part of their length. This means first-class Intercity passengers alight nearest to the station buildings at ] but have no shelter when they board at Swansea. | |||
For most of its history, the station was known as ''Swansea High Street'' to distinguish it from other stations in the area. Following the ] in the 1960s and the closure of ], the name was shortened to ''Swansea''. Today, the station is called ''Abertawe/Swansea'' on platform signs, the facade, public timetables, by the National Assembly of Wales and by Swansea County Council.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120805222547/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=770 |date=5 August 2012 }}</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924110953/http://www.swan.ac.uk/economics/res2004/information/index.htm |date=24 September 2006 }}</ref> | |||
===21st century redevelopment=== | |||
Automatic ticket barriers are installed controlling access both to and from the platform. Currently these are only used when the station is manned for safety reasons and due to the inability to handle some ticket types. The station also has a small newsagent, cafe and toilet facilities, as well as quite a large ticket office and information centre, although the services this provides have been cut back over the years. | |||
Swansea station received an upgrade in the form of redevelopment work that was completed in 2012, with new facilities including new waiting rooms, bicycle racks and digital information boards. Work was completed in June 2012 and was officially opened by the Welsh Government Minister with responsibility for Transport, Carl Sargeant, on Monday 11 June.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/transport/2012/120611swanseatrainstation/?lang=en |title=Welsh Government | Re-vamped Swansea Train Station gets official opening |website=wales.gov.uk |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822023708/http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/transport/2012/120611swanseatrainstation/?lang=en |archive-date=22 August 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
Further redevelopment work was carried out in the form of a new ticket office, completed in September 2017. A new enclosure was constructed for the ticket office, separating it from the main station concourse. | |||
Until January 2004, the ] to London was a regular service from the station: it was possible to post letters straight onto the train. | |||
In October 2020, Network Rail and Transport for Wales announced that work will start on rebuilding and lengthening platform 4 to {{Convert|260|m|feet}}. This will allow longer trains to use the platform and provide extra flexibility. At the same time, Transport for Wales will undertake other improvement works at the station including re-branding, improved ticket buying facilities and refurbished spaces for use by local businesses and community groups. The work was completed in June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holden |first=Alan |date=22 June 2021 |title=£7.5m investment in Swansea railway station completed |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/06/7-5m-investment-in-swansea-railway-station-completed.html |access-date=26 June 2021 |website=RailAdvent |language=en-GB}}</ref> | |||
==History== | |||
The station was originally opened in 1850. Although the station was built by the South Wales Railway, which amalgamated with ] in 1863, it was not originally on the South Wales Railway trunk line (which was planned to connect London to the ferries to Ireland) and Swansea passengers had to change at Landore, two miles to the north. (This was the case until at least ].) Swansea is still on a short spur from the main line. The station was renovated and extended several times in its lifetime and nothing remains of the original wooden station with a galvanised roof and two platforms. | |||
==Description== | |||
The majority of the rebuilt station remains intact, although the facilities have been reduced. The platform roof is mostly intact although the platform one canopy has been shortened. Platform five is no longer present nor the loading bays and fish dock that once stood beyond it. On the other side of the station a connecting line used to bypass through the station and follow the edge of what was the dock behind Wind Street and down to the dock and yards alongside former Swansea Victoria. The route alongside the station is now the car park and the remainder of the route down the docks has been obliterated (like most of the dock itself) by redevelopment. Most of the freight yard has also been lifted although parts just about remain, and one siding is currently (2007) used to store trains for the morning services. | |||
The station is a ], at the end of a short branch off the ] and the ], so that all through passenger trains must either reverse at Swansea or omit calling there. In practice, almost all passenger services do call there.<ref name="WWLT"></ref> | |||
The station has four platforms. Great Western Railway trains from London normally enter the station with the standard-class carriages leading and usually use platform 3. The platforms are covered for part of their length. | |||
There was great competition between the different railway companies in the Victorian period. Swansea had seven stations in ], built by five different railway companies: High Street, St Thomas, East Dock, Riverside, Victoria, Swansea Bay, and Rutland Street (the town terminus of the ]). Only High Street station now remains in the city centre. | |||
Until January 2004, the ] to London was a regular service from the station.<ref> '']''</ref> | |||
==Name of the station== | |||
For most of its history it was known as ''Swansea High Street'' to distinguish it from other train stations in the area. | |||
Following ] in the 1960s and the closure of ''Swansea Victoria'', the publically visible name of the station was shortened to simply ''Swansea'', when no such disambiguation was required. | |||
In February 2013, Swansea station won the ''Wales’ Best Staffed Train Station'' award, supported by ].<ref>http://www.keepwalestidy.org/10408{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | |||
Today the station is signed both as ''Abertawe/Swansea'' (such as on platform signs), and ''High Street Station'' (such as on the main entrance sign). It is listed by the RMT Union, SWWITCH and the National Assembly for Wales as ''Swansea High Street Station'', and ] list the postal address as "Swansea High Street Station, High Street, Swansea", <ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref> | |||
<ref></ref><ref></ref> | |||
<ref></ref> | |||
<ref></ref><ref></ref>. | |||
In May 2013, Swansea station was named ''International Station of the Year'' and won the ''Best Large Station'' award at the International Station Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Swansea-Station-named-UK-s-best-following-7/story-18879502-detail/story.html#axzz2TjpwhM2z|title = Swansea: The latest news, sport, what's on and business from Swansea and Gower}}</ref> | |||
It is also referred to as simply ''Swansea'' or ''Swansea railway station'', including in public railway timetables, by the National Assembly of Wales and by Swansea County Council<ref></ref> <ref>http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=3752</ref><ref>http://www.ecb.co.uk/fans/grounds/grounds-swansea,217,BP.html</ref><ref>http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1836</ref><ref>http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=770</ref><ref>http://www.swan.ac.uk/economics/res2004/information/index.htm</ref>. | |||
The ticket office is open here each day (Monday – Friday 05:15 – 20:00, Saturday 06:15 – 20:00, Sunday 08:00 – 20:00), with self-service ticket machines provided for use when the ticket office is closed and for collecting pre-paid tickets. A range of other amenities are available, including toilets, retail outlets, waiting rooms, ATM, payphone and the local Tourist Information Office. Bus stops and a taxi rank are located outside the entrance. Train running information is offered via timetable posters, digital CIS displays and automated announcements. Step-free access is available to all platforms.<ref> ''National Rail Enquiries''; Retrieved 5 April 2017</ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
*] | |||
== Platforms == | |||
The station's four platforms are generally used for the same services, but can change if it is not available. Following the May 2021 timetable update, the normal pattern is: | |||
*'''Platform 1''' | |||
**]: | |||
*** {{stnlnk|Fishguard Harbour}} via {{stnlnk|Carmarthen}}. Some services originate from {{stnlnk|Cardiff Central}} or {{stnlnk|Cheltenham Spa}}. | |||
*** {{stnlnk|Manchester Piccadilly}} via {{stnlnk|Newport}} and {{stnlnk|Crewe}} from either {{stnlnk|Carmarthen}} or {{stnlnk|Milford Haven}}. | |||
*** Terminating services from {{stnlnk|Shrewsbury}} via {{stnlnk|Llandrindod Wells}}. | |||
*'''Platform 2''' | |||
**Transport for Wales: | |||
*** Carmarthen from either Cardiff Central or Manchester Piccadilly | |||
*** Milford Haven via Carmarthen from Manchester Piccadilly | |||
*** Shrewsbury via Llandrindod Wells that start at Swansea. Some services originate from Cardiff Central. | |||
*'''Platform 3''' | |||
**]: | |||
*** Carmarthen from {{stnlnk|London Paddington}}. | |||
*** London Paddington via Cardiff Central. | |||
*** Terminating services from London Paddington via Cardiff Central. | |||
*'''Platform 4''' | |||
**Transport for Wales: | |||
*** Cardiff Central via {{stnlnk|Port Talbot Parkway}} that start at Swansea. | |||
*** {{stnlnk|Pembroke Dock}} via Carmarthen that start at Swansea. | |||
*** Terminating services from Cardiff Central. | |||
*** Terminating services from Pembroke Dock. | |||
==Services== | |||
] with a service to Manchester Piccadilly]] | |||
Swansea is served by two ]: | |||
* ] operates ] services to London Paddington, via Cardiff Central, along the South Wales Main Line. Most services start/terminate here, but some extend to Carmarthen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Train Times |work=Great Western Railway |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=14 November 2024 |url=https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times }}</ref> | |||
* ] provides the majority of services including:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Transport for Wales |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=14 November 2024 |url=https://tfw.wales/service-status/timetables}}</ref> | |||
** Inter-city services to Manchester Piccadilly, via Hereford, Shrewsbury and Crewe | |||
** ] services to Cardiff Central; this provides connections to the South Wales Valleys, {{stnlink|Bristol Temple Meads}}, {{stnlink|Taunton}}, {{stnlink|Southampton Central}}, {{stnlink|Portsmouth Harbour}}, {{stnlink|Gloucester}}, {{stnlink|Birmingham New Street}} and {{stnlink|Nottingham}} | |||
** ] to Carmarthen and then to Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven or Fishguard Harbour | |||
** ] services between Llanelli and Shrewsbury | |||
** Some ]s to and from Fishguard Harbour commence at Swansea. These connect with the ] ferry to ] in Ireland, with a daily morning and evening service in both directions. This route has been in existence since 1906. | |||
{{rail start}} | |||
{{rail line|previous=]|next1=''Terminus''|route=]<br /><small>]</small>|col={{KAW colour}}}} | |||
{{rail line one to two|previous=]|next1=]|next2={{stnlnk|Llanelli}}|route=]<br /><small>]</small>|col={{KAW colour}}}} | |||
{{rail line|previous=]|route=]<br /><small>]</small>|col={{KAW colour}}}} | |||
{{rail line one to two|previous=]|next1=''Terminus''|route1=]<br /><small>]</small>|next2=]|route2=]<br /><small>]</small>|col={{FGW colour}}}} | |||
{{S-end}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
===Citations=== | |||
<references /> | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
*''Railways around Swansea'' factsheet from Swansea Museums Service | |||
*''The South Wales Railway'' factsheet from Swansea Museums Service | |||
===Sources=== | |||
* {{cite book|author=R.V.J. Butt|title= The Directory of Railway Stations|publisher=Patrick Stephens|year=1995|isbn=1-85260-508-1}} | |||
* {{cite book|author=A. Jowett |title= Jowett's Nationalised Railway Atlas|publisher=]|year=2000|isbn=0-906899-99-0 }} | |||
* ''Railways around Swansea'' factsheet from Swansea Museums Service | |||
* ''The South Wales Railway'' factsheet from Swansea Museums Service | |||
==Further reading== | |||
* {{cite magazine|title=Swansea station improvements|magazine=]|publisher=EMAP National Publications|date=October 1984|page=16|issn=0262-561X|oclc=49957965}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{commons category}} | |||
{{stn art lnk|SWA|SA11NU}} | {{stn art lnk|SWA|SA11NU}} | ||
* | |||
* | |||
{{Railway stations served by Transport for Wales}} | |||
{{rail start}} | |||
{{Transport in Swansea}} | |||
{{rail line|previous=]|next=]|route=]<br><small>]/<br>]</small>|col=30c5b8}} | |||
{{Major railway stations in Britain}} | |||
{{rail line|previous=|next=]|route=]<br><small>]</small>|col=30c5b8}} | |||
{{rail line|previous=]|next=]|route=]<br><small>]/<br>]</small>|col=010385}} | |||
{{end box}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 22:17, 22 November 2024
Railway station in Swansea, Wales For the station in South Australia formerly known as Swansea, see Largs North railway station.
Swansea Welsh: Abertawe | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
General information | |||||
Location | Swansea, City and County of Swansea Wales | ||||
Coordinates | 51°37′31″N 3°56′27″W / 51.6253°N 3.9409°W / 51.6253; -3.9409 | ||||
Grid reference | SS657936 | ||||
Managed by | Transport for Wales | ||||
Platforms | 4 | ||||
Other information | |||||
Station code | SWA | ||||
Classification | DfT category C1 | ||||
History | |||||
Opened | 19 June 1850; 174 years ago (1850-06-19) as Swansea High Street | ||||
Original company | South Wales Railway | ||||
Pre-grouping | Great Western Railway | ||||
Post-grouping | Great Western Railway | ||||
Key dates | |||||
6 May 1968 | Renamed Swansea | ||||
Passengers | |||||
2019/20 | 2.060 million | ||||
Interchange | 98,806 | ||||
2020/21 | 0.469 million | ||||
Interchange | 17,382 | ||||
2021/22 | 1.478 million | ||||
Interchange | 66,720 | ||||
2022/23 | 1.884 million | ||||
Interchange | 96,651 | ||||
2023/24 | 2.186 million | ||||
Interchange | 87,354 | ||||
|
Swansea railway station serves the city of Swansea, Wales. It is sited 216 miles 7 chains (348 km) from London Paddington, via Stroud, on the National Rail network. In 2021/22, it was the third-busiest station in Wales, after Cardiff Central and Newport.
History
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Swansea railway station" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The station opened in 1850. It was built by the South Wales Railway, which amalgamated with the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1863; it was not originally on the South Wales Railway main line, planned to connect London with the port of Fishguard, and Swansea passengers had to change at Landore, two miles to the north until at least 1879. The station has been renovated and extended several times in its lifetime – most notably in the 1880s, when the stone-built office block facing High Street, on the west side of the station, was added, and in 1925–1927 when the platforms were lengthened. The present-day frontage block, facing Ivey Place, was completed in 1934. Nothing now remains of the original wooden station with its two platforms and galvanised iron roof.
The majority of the rebuilt station remains intact, although the facilities have been reduced. The umbrella-type platform roofing which replaced the 1880s train-sheds in the 1920s is mostly intact although the canopy on platform 4 has been shortened. The number of platforms was reduced from five to four in 1973 under British Rail when the old platform 1 was eliminated, along with the loading bays and fish dock that once stood beyond it. The remaining platforms were renumbered at the same time, so that what were platforms 2 to 5 are now platforms 1 to 4 respectively.
On the east side of the station there was a connecting line which bypassed the platforms and ran at one time to coal tips on the North Dock (closed in 1929 and subsequently infilled) and on to a junction with the high-level line from Eastern Depot to Victoria station (closed in 1965). Part of the route of this line, alongside the station itself, is now a staff car park and the remainder, which was carried on viaducts alongside the Strand, has been obliterated by modern development. High Street goods station was on the west side of the line, just north of the passenger station. The site has been completely cleared and used for housing and also the dedicated bus road that runs from the Landore park-and-ride facility into the city centre. On the opposite side of the line were extensive carriage sidings (Maliphant sidings), large areas of which are, as of 2014, being redeveloped as the Hitachi IEP (Intercity Express Programme) rail service depot.
There was great competition between the different railway companies in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Swansea had seven stations in 1895, owned by five different railway companies: High Street (GWR), St Thomas (Midland Railway), East Dock (GWR), Riverside (Rhondda & Swansea Bay Railway, by which it was called simply Swansea; renamed Swansea Docks by the GWR in 1924 and Riverside two years later), Victoria and Swansea Bay (both London & North Western Railway), and Rutland Street (the town terminus of the Mumbles Railway). Only High Street now remains in the city centre.
Toponymy
For most of its history, the station was known as Swansea High Street to distinguish it from other stations in the area. Following the Beeching cuts in the 1960s and the closure of Swansea Victoria, the name was shortened to Swansea. Today, the station is called Abertawe/Swansea on platform signs, the facade, public timetables, by the National Assembly of Wales and by Swansea County Council.
21st century redevelopment
Swansea station received an upgrade in the form of redevelopment work that was completed in 2012, with new facilities including new waiting rooms, bicycle racks and digital information boards. Work was completed in June 2012 and was officially opened by the Welsh Government Minister with responsibility for Transport, Carl Sargeant, on Monday 11 June.
Further redevelopment work was carried out in the form of a new ticket office, completed in September 2017. A new enclosure was constructed for the ticket office, separating it from the main station concourse.
In October 2020, Network Rail and Transport for Wales announced that work will start on rebuilding and lengthening platform 4 to 260 metres (850 ft). This will allow longer trains to use the platform and provide extra flexibility. At the same time, Transport for Wales will undertake other improvement works at the station including re-branding, improved ticket buying facilities and refurbished spaces for use by local businesses and community groups. The work was completed in June 2021.
Description
The station is a terminus, at the end of a short branch off the South Wales Main Line and the West Wales Line, so that all through passenger trains must either reverse at Swansea or omit calling there. In practice, almost all passenger services do call there.
The station has four platforms. Great Western Railway trains from London normally enter the station with the standard-class carriages leading and usually use platform 3. The platforms are covered for part of their length.
Until January 2004, the mail train to London was a regular service from the station.
In February 2013, Swansea station won the Wales’ Best Staffed Train Station award, supported by Keep Wales Tidy.
In May 2013, Swansea station was named International Station of the Year and won the Best Large Station award at the International Station Awards.
The ticket office is open here each day (Monday – Friday 05:15 – 20:00, Saturday 06:15 – 20:00, Sunday 08:00 – 20:00), with self-service ticket machines provided for use when the ticket office is closed and for collecting pre-paid tickets. A range of other amenities are available, including toilets, retail outlets, waiting rooms, ATM, payphone and the local Tourist Information Office. Bus stops and a taxi rank are located outside the entrance. Train running information is offered via timetable posters, digital CIS displays and automated announcements. Step-free access is available to all platforms.
Platforms
The station's four platforms are generally used for the same services, but can change if it is not available. Following the May 2021 timetable update, the normal pattern is:
- Platform 1
- Transport for Wales:
- Fishguard Harbour via Carmarthen. Some services originate from Cardiff Central or Cheltenham Spa.
- Manchester Piccadilly via Newport and Crewe from either Carmarthen or Milford Haven.
- Terminating services from Shrewsbury via Llandrindod Wells.
- Transport for Wales:
- Platform 2
- Transport for Wales:
- Carmarthen from either Cardiff Central or Manchester Piccadilly
- Milford Haven via Carmarthen from Manchester Piccadilly
- Shrewsbury via Llandrindod Wells that start at Swansea. Some services originate from Cardiff Central.
- Transport for Wales:
- Platform 3
- Great Western Railway:
- Carmarthen from London Paddington.
- London Paddington via Cardiff Central.
- Terminating services from London Paddington via Cardiff Central.
- Great Western Railway:
- Platform 4
- Transport for Wales:
- Cardiff Central via Port Talbot Parkway that start at Swansea.
- Pembroke Dock via Carmarthen that start at Swansea.
- Terminating services from Cardiff Central.
- Terminating services from Pembroke Dock.
- Transport for Wales:
Services
Swansea is served by two train operating companies:
- Great Western Railway operates inter-city services to London Paddington, via Cardiff Central, along the South Wales Main Line. Most services start/terminate here, but some extend to Carmarthen.
- Transport for Wales provides the majority of services including:
- Inter-city services to Manchester Piccadilly, via Hereford, Shrewsbury and Crewe
- Swanline services to Cardiff Central; this provides connections to the South Wales Valleys, Bristol Temple Meads, Taunton, Southampton Central, Portsmouth Harbour, Gloucester, Birmingham New Street and Nottingham
- West Wales Line to Carmarthen and then to Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven or Fishguard Harbour
- Heart of Wales line services between Llanelli and Shrewsbury
- Some boat trains to and from Fishguard Harbour commence at Swansea. These connect with the Stena Line ferry to Rosslare Europort in Ireland, with a daily morning and evening service in both directions. This route has been in existence since 1906.
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Llansamlet | Transport for Wales Swanline |
Terminus | ||
Neath | Transport for Wales West Wales Line |
Gowerton | ||
Llanelli | ||||
Gowerton | Transport for Wales Heart of Wales line |
Terminus | ||
Neath | Great Western Railway London Paddington-South Wales |
Terminus | ||
Great Western Railway London Paddington-Carmarthen / Pembroke Dock |
Llanelli |
References
Citations
- Padgett, David (June 2018) . Munsey, Myles (ed.). Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western & Wales (6th ed.). Frome: Trackmaps. map 23A. ISBN 978-1-9996271-0-2.
- "London Waterloo is top of the stops again, but overall numbers are down on pre-pandemic levels". Office of Rail and Road. 24 November 2022.
- ^ History of the Great Western Railway, E.T. MacDermot (rev. C.R. Clinker, pub. Ian Allan, 1964)
- Track Layout Diagrams of the GWR and BR (Western Region), R.A. Cooke (self-published)
- C.R. Clinker, Clinker's Register of Closed Passenger Stations and Goods Depots in England, Wales and Scotland, 1830–1977, AvonAnglia Publications, Bristol, 1978
- City and Council of Swansea: Passenger Transport Archived 5 August 2012 at archive.today
- RES Annual Conference 2004 – Information Archived 24 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- "Welsh Government | Re-vamped Swansea Train Station gets official opening". wales.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- Holden, Alan (22 June 2021). "£7.5m investment in Swansea railway station completed". RailAdvent. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- Arriva Trains Wales: West Wales to Swansea timetable
- End of line for mail trains BBC News
- http://www.keepwalestidy.org/10408
- "Swansea: The latest news, sport, what's on and business from Swansea and Gower".
- Swansea station facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 5 April 2017
- "Train Times". Great Western Railway. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- "Timetables". Transport for Wales. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
Sources
- R.V.J. Butt (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Patrick Stephens. ISBN 1-85260-508-1.
- A. Jowett (2000). Jowett's Nationalised Railway Atlas. Atlantic Books. ISBN 0-906899-99-0.
- Railways around Swansea factsheet from Swansea Museums Service
- The South Wales Railway factsheet from Swansea Museums Service
Further reading
- "Swansea station improvements". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. October 1984. p. 16. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
External links
- Train times and station information for Swansea railway station from National Rail
- Great Western IEP Network Master Availability And Reliability Agreement
- Photographs of the station through the years
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