Ton Pentre railway station

Ton Pentre
General information
LocationTon Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Wales
Coordinates51°38′52″N 3°29′11″W / 51.6478°N 3.4863°W / 51.6478; -3.4863
Grid referenceSS972953
Managed byTransport for Wales
Platforms1
Other information
Station codeTPN
ClassificationDfT category F2
History
Original companyTaff Vale Railway
Pre-groupingTaff Vale Railway
Post-groupingGreat Western Railway
Key dates
4 February 1861 (1861-02-04)Opened as Ystrad
December 1930Renamed Ystrad (Rhondda)
29 September 1986Renamed Ton Pentre
Passengers
2020/21 13,024
2021/22 45,346
2022/23 53,622
2023/24 36,352
2024/25 79,222
Location
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Ton Pentre railway station is a railway station serving the village of Ton Pentre in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It is located on the Rhondda Line, between Ystrad Rhondda and Treorchy, 20 miles 75 chains (33.7 km) from Cardiff Docks (Bute Town).[1]

History

The station was opened by the Taff Vale Railway (TVR) on 4 February 1861.[2] The station was renamed Ystrad Rhondda in December 1930.[2] On 29 September 1986, the station was renamed Ton Pentre, when Ystrad Rhondda opened to the south.[2]

South Wales Metro transformation

Ystrad Rhondda station was significantly affected by the South Wales Metro electrification programme, with services suspended from April 2023 to February 2024 to enable major infrastructure upgrades.[3] The closure allowed for the installation of 25kV AC overhead electrification equipment along the Treherbert line and the replacement of the century-old token signalling system with modern electronic signalling.

During the closure period, a replacement bus service operated every 30 minutes between Pontypridd and Treherbert.[4] The transformation works were part of a £1 billion investment in the South Wales Metro, described as the largest and most complex engineering project taking place in Wales.[5]

The Treherbert line was electrified in May 2024, and the first electric train services began operating in November 2024 using new Stadler Class 756 tri-mode trains.[6] These modern trains feature improved capacity, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and passenger information screens, representing a significant upgrade from the previous diesel rolling stock.[6]

Facilities

Ton Pentre has basic facilities including a seated waiting area and a ticket machine. The station provides four bicycle storage stands. The station has step-free access.[7]

Passenger volume

Passenger Volume at Ton Pentre[8]
2002–03 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23
Entries and exits 95,111 44,901 37,998 46,826 92,481 100,922 109,428 39,698 40,608 46,488 46,818 47,102 43,858 74,984 79,880 68,608 66,868 13,024 45,346 53,622

The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.

Services

Monday-Saturday, there is a half-hourly service to Cardiff Central southbound and to Treherbert northbound. There is an hourly service in the late evening and a two-hourly service in each direction on Sundays.[9] On 20 July 2018, previous franchise operator Arriva Trains Wales announced a trial period of extra Sunday services on the Rhondda Line to Cardiff and Barry Island. This was in response to a survey by Leanne Wood and the success of extra Sunday services on the Merthyr Line and the Rhymney Line.[10]

The services from this station were suspended in Summer 2023, due to major route upgrade work being carried out at multiple locations as part of the Valley Lines electrification scheme. A replacement bus service operated between Pontypridd and to Treherbert, calling at all local stations, until February 2024.[11] Rail services resumed at the station from 26 February 2024 following completion of the majority of the infrastructure works.[12]

Preceding station National Rail Following station
Ystrad Rhondda   Transport for Wales
Rhondda Line
   Treorchy

References

  1. ^ Bridge, Mike, ed. (2017). TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain: A Comprehensive Geographic Atlas Showing the Rail Network of Great Britain (3rd ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. p. 25. ISBN 978 1909431 26 3.
  2. ^ a b c Quick 2023, p. 452.
  3. ^ "South Wales Metro: Revolutionising How People Travel". Institution of Civil Engineers. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  4. ^ "South Wales Metro - Changes to train services". Transport for Wales. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Electrification progress on the South Wales Metro". Transport for Wales. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  6. ^ a b "First electric trains to be introduced to South Wales Metro". Transport for Wales. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Ton Pentre Station | Train Times | Transport for Wales". tfw.wales. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Estimates of station usage | ORR Data Portal". dataportal.orr.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  9. ^ Table 69 National Rail timetable, May 2016
  10. ^ "Extra Sunday services between Treherbert and Barry Island". Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  11. ^ South Wales Metro - Changes to train services (TfW)Transport for Wales website; Retrieved 2023-07-11
  12. ^ Johnson, Thomas (26 February 2024). "Treherbert Line reopens to passenger traffic after nine month transformation". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 14 March 2026.

Bibliography

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