Severn Tunnel Junction railway station

Severn Tunnel Junction railway station (Welsh: Cyffordd Twnnel Hafren) is a minor railway station on the western side of the Severn Tunnel at Rogiet, Monmouthshire, Wales. It lies at the junction of the South Wales Main Line from London and the Gloucester to Newport Line.

The railway line was opened through Rogiet in 1850, although there was no station here^[1][2] until a junction was built to serve the new Severn Tunnel, the tunnel opening to passenger services on 1 December 1886.^[3] During construction, several maps were printed that labelled the new junction as 'Rogiet Station'^[2][4] although the station was always named Severn Tunnel Junction from the time that it opened. At this time Rogiet was little more than a church and a farm and the expansion of the village did not begin until the opening of the station.

The next station to the west is Newport. The next stations to the east are at Pilning in South Gloucestershire (through the tunnel) and nearby Caldicot (on the Gloucester line).

History

The Great Western Railway built a major goods yard at the junction, which sorted coal coming from the South Wales Valleys to the London and the Midlands; while in reverse, it sorted goods from the rest of the UK to South Wales. The station and goods yard were heavily bombed during World War II, due to the large goods yard facility.^[5]

From 1924 to 1966 Severn Tunnel Junction was the terminus of a car transport service through the tunnel to Pilning. The service was made redundant by the opening of the Severn Bridge in 1966.^[6]

As a result of reduced coal and industrial production from the mid-1980s from South Wales, and increases in fixed goods formations, Severn Tunnel Junction goods yard and locomotive depot were closed from 12 October 1987 with residual marshalling moving to Newport railway station.^[7] After the tracks were lifted in the early 1990s, part of the site of the former goods yard was used for the toll booths for the Second Severn Crossing.

Current Developments

Network Rail is currently remodelling the track layout at Severn Tunnel Junction in conjunction with resignalling work, due to be completed by 2014.^[8] This will provide improved operational flexibility, reduce maintenance costs and re-instate a fourth through platform. SEWTA intends use the opportunity to improve passenger facilities at the station.

Since 4 January 2010 the new track configuration is in use. The South Wales Main Line now uses platforms 3 and 4 and Gloucester to Newport Line platforms 1 and 2. There are no rail connections between the platforms east of the station as high-speed crossovers have been provided to the west.

Services

See also

• First Great Western
• List of all UK railway stations

References

External links

• Monmouthshire Railway Society
• Train times for Severn Tunnel Junction from National Rail
• Map and aerial photos of Severn Tunnel Junction
• Historic pictures of Severn Tunnel Junction