Village back on track 43 years on

Llanharan's station will see services running seven days a week

Villagers are relishing the opening of their local train station for the first time in more than 40 years.

Llanharan, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, saw its previous station close in 1964, and the new one is built on the same site.

Rail services have begun running between the village and Bridgend, Maesteg and Cardiff, although it will not officially open until February.

It has been opened with money from the Welsh Assembly Government and European Objective One funding.

The new station will feature CCTV and electronic information displays.

Service

Its official opening will coincide with the completion of a passenger car park and other minor works.

Eudine Hanagan, Rhondda Cynon Taf's cabinet member for transport, said she was pleased the station was open before Christmas.

"This is a clear statement of intent and whilst the station is not yet fully finished, we wanted to enable local passengers to use their new rail service at the earliest opportunity," she said.

Hourly services between Cardiff, Bridgend and Maesteg will operate from Monday to Saturday and there will be three return services to Cardiff on Sundays.

The council said the station would also benefit from public help points, well-lit platforms and footpaths for security.

The station was built under the Sewta (the South East Wales Transport Alliance) initiative by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail.