Craven Arms railway station

Craven Arms railway station serves the town of Craven Arms in Shropshire, England. Until 1974 it was known as "Craven Arms and Stokesay",[1] named after the nearby coaching inn (the town having not come into being prior to the arrival of the railways) and the historic settlement of Stokesay to the south. It is situated at the junction of the Welsh Marches Line and the Heart of Wales Line, 20 miles (32 km) south of Shrewsbury. All passenger trains calling at the station are operated by Transport for Wales, who also manage it.

Craven Arms
National Rail
Craven Arms railway station, looking north
General information
LocationCraven Arms, Shropshire
England
Coordinates52.4425°N 2.8375°W / 52.4425; -2.8375
Grid referenceSO431830
Managed byTransport for Wales
Platforms2
Other information
Station codeCRV
ClassificationDfT category F1
History
Opened1852
Passengers
2017/18Decrease 96,996
 Interchange Decrease 2,013
2018/19Increase 100,968
 Interchange Increase 3,311
2019/20Decrease 96,166
 Interchange Decrease 2,604
2020/21Decrease 23,912
 Interchange Decrease 1,462
2021/22Increase 71,224
 Interchange Increase 2,058
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

The station has two platforms, connected by a footbridge. Platform 1, on the west side, serves northbound trains to Shrewsbury and beyond as well as trains from Swansea via the Heart of Wales Line. Platform 2, on the town side of the station, serves southbound trains to Hereford and Cardiff and also southbound HoW services since signalling and track alterations in October 2018.[2] Prior to these changes, southbound trains to Llanelli and beyond used platform 1 in both directions (the crossover giving access to the branch being sited to the north near Long Lane crossing - this has now been relocated to the south end of the station).

Between 1865 and 1935, Craven Arms was the junction terminus of the Bishops Castle Railway. There was also a junction serving the line that went to Wellington via Much Wenlock. Adjacent to the station once stood the now demolished carriage sheds. There continues to be a signal box at Craven Arms, to the north of the station by the level crossing.

History
The station in 1949

The Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway company was the first to serve the town, arriving from the north in 1852 and completing its route through to Hereford the following year.[3] The Knighton Railway constructed the first of the three branches from the main line between 1858 and 1861. The second branch was that of the Bishops Castle Railway which arrived in 1865 via a junction with the main line about 1 km to the north, whilst the route from Much Wenlock was completed by the Wenlock, Craven Arms and Lightmoor Extension railway in 1867 (joining the main line a few miles north of the town at Marsh Farm Junction). The LNWR and Great Western Railway jointly leased the main line in 1862, whilst the modest Knighton branch would eventually be extended right through to Swansea by the LNWR over the course of the next decade. The Bishops Castle branch, which spent its entire existence in receivership closed in 1935. The Much Wenlock line by contrast would remain little altered throughout its life, although the GWR did take control of it soon after opening; its passenger trains ceased in 1951. The station's locomotive shed closed in 1964 and goods traffic ceased in May 1968.

Facilities

The station is unstaffed and now has no permanent buildings other than standard metal and plexiglass waiting shelters on each platform (the main buildings on each side having been demolished by 1972).[4] A self-service ticket machine is however provided for intending passengers - this can also be used for collecting pre-paid tickets. Train running information is offered via CIS displays, timetable posters and a customer help point on each platform. A footbridge links both platforms, but step-free also offered on each side - this does though require a sizeable detour via local roads if changing platforms.[5]

Services
The junction at the south end of the station. A Heart of Wales Line service to Swansea departs.

Mondays to Saturdays trains from Carmarthen to Manchester Piccadilly (via Cardiff Central, Hereford, Shrewsbury, and Crewe) call at the station every two hours in both directions. Most Holyhead to Cardiff trains also call here (also every two hours). On Sundays the frequency is irregular and there are no departures until just before noon.[6]

Preceding station National Rail National Rail Following station
Ludlow   Transport for Wales
Welsh Marches Line		   Church Stretton
Broome   Transport for Wales
Heart of Wales Line		  
Disused railways
Wistanstow Halt
Line open, station closed		   LNWR and GWR joint
Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway		   Onibury
Line open, station closed
Terminus   GWR Wellington to Craven Arms Railway
Wenlock, Craven Arms and Lightmoor Extension Railway		   Harton Road
Line and station closed
Stretford Bridge Junction Halt
Line and station closed		   Bishops Castle Railway   Terminus

There are five trains a day (two on Sundays) in each direction between Swansea and Shrewsbury (plus two more as far as Llandrindod Wells, except on Saturdays) along the Heart of Wales Line.[7]

References
  1. Christiansen (2001) Chester & North Wales Border Railways p. 53
  2. "Disruption for passengers as Craven Arms railway upgrade begins this weekend" Shropshire Live news article 28 September 2018; Retrieved 13 October 2018
  3. Body, p.62
  4. Disused Stations - Craven Arms Disused Stations Site Record; Retrieved 7 April 2017
  5. Craven Arms station facilities National Rail Enquiries; Retrieved 7 April 2017
  6. GB eNRT December 2018 Edition, Table 131
  7. Table 130 National Rail timetable, December 2022
  • Body, G. (1983), PSL Field Guides - Railways of the Western Region, Patrick Stephens Ltd, Wellingborough, ISBN 0-85059-546-0

Further reading
  • Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (2008). Craven Arms to Wellington. West Sussex: Middleton Press. figs. 1-7. ISBN 9781906008338. OCLC 750867075.
  • Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (2008). Shrewsbury to Ludlow. West Sussex: Middleton Press. figs. 73-89. ISBN 9781906008215. OCLC 520487698.
  • Organ, John (2008). Mitchell, Vic (ed.). Craven Arms to Llandeilo. West Sussex: Middleton Press. figs. 1-11. ISBN 9781906008352. OCLC 648080889.
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