Railway stations in Newport

Railways in Newport
Legend to Blaenavon (N&P) to Pontypool (PC&N) Malpas Tunnel Caerleon Marshes Turnpike Gate (temporary) Newport Mill Street Newport to London (SWR) Hillfield Tunnel Uskmouth branch Gaer Tunnel Llanarth St. Junction Western Valley Saluation Junction Newport Dock Street to Cardiff (SWR) Uskmouth Power Station Pill Bank Junction Alexandra Docks Old Town Dock

Railway Clearing House map from 1905

There have been many railway stations in Newport, due to its importance as a port for the industrial Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire valleys. The only stations in use at the moment are Newport in the city centre and Rogerstone.

History

• 18 June 1850 a station on the South Wales Railway opened as Newport High Street.
• 21 December 1850 A temporary terminus station was opened at Courtybella for the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company's Western Valley line.
• 4 August 1852 Newport Dock Street station opened on the Western Valley line.
• 31 July 1852 The Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company opened the Newport and Pontypool Railway (Eastern Valley line) to Pontypool, with a temporary terminus station at Barrack Hill.
• 9 March 1853 Newport Mill Street station opened to replace the terminus at Barrack Hill.
• May 1855 Eastern Valley line connected to Western Valley line at Dock Street.
• 1863 South Wales Railway and Great Western Railway amalgamated.
• 17 September 1874 Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway opened from Pontypool South Junction to Maindee Junctions for goods trains.
• 21 December 1874 Passenger trains on the Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway run to High Street station.
• 1878 Connection made from Llantarnam Junction on the Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway to Cwmbran Junction on Eastern Valley line. Eastern Valley trains divert, via Caerleon, to Newport High Street.
• 1879 Park Junction to Gaer Junction opened allowing the Western Valley line access to use High Street station.
• 1 August 1880 Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company and Great Western Railway amalgamated. Mill Street and Dock Street passenger stations closed.
• 28 November 1966 Newport Mill Street station closed.

Former suburban stations

The following list of stations are all within the present city boundary, although all have subsequently closed.

• Bassaleg Junction
• Bassaleg
• Caerleon
• Llanwern
• Marshfield
• Newport Mill Street
• Newport Dock Street
• Rhiwderin

The future

There are plans to operate services to Newport station on the newly reopened Ebbw Valley Railway and re-open more former stations on the line as part of a wider transport strategy for the city. Currently services operate between Ebbw Vale Parkway and Cardiff Central.

The Newport Unitary Development Plan lists the following policies in part 4 under "Public Transport":

Railways

T1 The railway system will be safeguarded and developed by:

1. The provision of new stations at Caerleon, Coedkernew (Newport West), Rogerstone, Bassaleg (Pye Corner), Maesglas (Newport West Central) and Llanwern;
2. the protection of disused railway lines from development;
3. Protecting and encouraging rail access to industrial development;
4. Promoting the re-opening of the Western Valley line to passenger traffic;
5. Supporting improved rail links to Newport Docks and river wharves;
6. Promoting the upgrading of the South Wales Main Line and through services to the continent;
7. Supporting applications for government grant for new rail facilities.

References

• Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0508-1. OCLC 60251199. 

External links

• Monmouthshire railway society
• Newport UDP