Builth Road railway station


Builth Road railway station is a station primarily serving the town of Builth Wells, in mid Wales. It is on the Heart of Wales Line. The station is over northwest of Builth Wells via the A470, a busy trunk road.
The hamlet of Builth Road has developed around the station.

History

The station uses one of the high level platforms of the former interchange station with the earlier Mid Wales Railway which served the town of Builth Wells directly on its route from Cardiff to the North. The original station did not bear the name "Builth Road", instead being given the name "Llechryd". Builth Road was the name subsequently given to the Central Wales Extension Railway's high level station on the line from Llandrindod Wells to Llandovery that opened in 1866. The Mid-Wales Railway station was eventually renamed Builth Road Low Level in 1889. The two routes crossed immediately south of the High Level station on a girder bridge and were at one time connected by lift.
Both the High and Low Level stations had substantial buildings until the mid-1960s, with High Level also having a goods shed and a running loop to accommodate the banking locomotives employed to assist trains on the 1 in 74 climb up from Llandrindod Wells. The former Low Level station buildings also still stand and were used as the former Cambrian Arms public house, whilst those on the remaining active platform at High Level are now used as housing.

Facilities

The station is unstaffed and has no ticket machine, so tickets must be purchased in advance or on the train. There is a standard waiting shelter on the platform, along with a digital CIS display, timetable poster board and customer help point at the station entrance. Level access is provided from the entrance to the platform, with a section raised to assist passengers boarding and alighting.

Services

All trains serving the station are operated by Transport for Wales, and it is a request stop. There are five trains a day in each direction from Monday to Saturday, and two services on Sundays. During the Royal Welsh Show, Transport for Wales runs special services with connecting buses to/from the showground on the northern outskirts of Builth Wells.