I wanted to come here, but it was a ruse. I wasn't even invited. Oh wait, no, it was a Rhoose. So…read morethat's okay then. For a second I thought my Rhoose was cooked. This looks like a little old rural station but with a bunch of houses on one side of the track, but from here you get a bus into Cardiff Airport, so it works pretty well as an airport station, even though it's not right at the airport or anything. It's sort of in a residential neighborhood of Cardiff, so it works really well for those that live around here as well. It's a pretty standard bland station though, but not many actual buildings are here at all. It's about 12 miles to the west of the city center of Cardiff.

Rhoose Cardiff International Airport station serves the large village of Rhoose, west of Cardiff…read more It is linked by a connecting bus to Cardiff International Airport. The first station on this site opened in 1897 on the Barry Railway's extension from Barry to Bridgend, and continued when the line passed first to the Great Western Railway and then to British Railways. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1964 between Barry and Bridgend and all the intermediate stations, including Rhoose, were closed. The line however remained open for freight and as a diversionary route. Services from Cardiff to Bridgend via Barry started again in 2005, and Rhoose and Llantwit Major stations were reopened albeit as simple unstaffed halts. Rhoose was given the name "Rhoose Cardiff International Airport", the longest official station name in the U.K. It's Welsh version "Maes Awyr Rhyngwladol Caerdydd Y Rhws" is the longest official name in Welsh as well (as the longer version of the famous Llanfairpwllgwyngyll is not officially used). The station has very basic facilities. There are two platforms, staggered either side of the level crossing, each with simple shelters and ticket machines (card only). There is a small car park and a bus stop for the connecting airport bus service. Both platforms have level access. The station is unstaffed. The normal service is hourly on weekdays to or from Bridgend: to the east, services Call at all stations between Barry and Cardiff Central. Some continue to Aberdare, via Pontypridd. On Sundays there is a service every two hours, between Cardiff Central and Bridgend.

I thought that Aber Station (the next one up the line from Cardiff Central) was slow, but…read moreCaerphilly is almost as bad. Monday to Saturday, the train to/from Cardiff runs every 15 minutes or so. On Sundays, the train runs every two hours. Be prepared. There is a staffed ticket booth during some hours but the rest of the time there is just the automated ticket vending machine. There are no ticket barricades and there is step free access. There is a confectionery/soda vending machine. The bus station/depot is attached and there is a taxi stand just opposite.

Perfectly located station, just on the edge of the central part of town. Small station with exits…read moreon both sides (so you don't have to labour over an annoying footbridge).

I've been using TFW Rail much more lately, and I'm pleased to report an improvement in both service…read moreand fair prices, they offer the cheapest tickets between Manchester Piccadilly and a few small towns (generally a couple stops away) including Wilmslow, I also like how their main platform at Manchester Piccadilly is so easily accessed from the car park/Metrolink compared to the other stations, so you don't always have to pass through the main station to get there. A lack of consistency between trains does make planning travel difficult, especially as you don't know what type of train you're going to get ahead of times, I find the new trains quite comfortable and the older trains quite the opposite, so it is pot luck. I have noticed less staff going up and down the trains such as with a trolley, presumably down to reduced services due to the ongoing pandemic. TFW Rail is going to have a lot of changes lately including being renationalised and taken control of again by the Welsh Government as well as funding to help improve, which I hope will improve the quality and comfort of the trains and the speed however possible, but the latter does seem to be the problem across many operators who are restricted due to having to apply for routes and meet them in some form of another. 3*

I don't like to come here by proxy, I always come here in Parson…read more Parson Street is one of the many alternative Railway stations for Bristol and it's a nice little station that gets a decent amount of traffic. Bristol has quite a few stations serving the area and they all do a good job, but Temple Meads is still my favourite even though Parson street is cute. It has two tracks, two platforms and serves a nice little neighbourhood on the western super mare line. It's only two miles from Temple Meads so it's close to the heart of Bristol. It's very close to Bedminster as well.

Actually located in Bedminster (which confusingly, Bedminster station is not!), this is a basic…read moreunstaffed halt served by local trains from Bristol to Weston-super-Mare and Taunton. It serves the suburbs of Bedminster, an adjacent area of light industry and is 10-15 minutes' walk from Bristol City FC's ground at Ashton Gate. Opened by the Great Western Railway in 1927 as 'Parson Street Halt', it was rebuilt with four tracks and two island platforms in 1933, and the 'Halt' suffix was dropped. By the 1970s the service frequency had (like adjacent Bedminster) fallen to just a handful of trains in each rush hour. Subsequent rationalisation meant that only the centre tracks were used, and the station acquired a faint air of desolation, with the ticket office on the bridge removed. But things have improved enormously in recent years, and it now benefits from a half hourly service during weekdays, reducing to hourly in the evening. Passenger numbers have more than quadrupled since 2003 as a result. (Which just goes to show that people will use trains if the service is good enough). Facilities are as basic as they could be: a shelter on each platform and a train indicator. There is no level access on any part of the station - the way in is via 31 steps from the adjacent bridge which carries Parson Street over the railway.

I like to do comedy routines on the platform here, I'm known as Cathays Clown…read more This station is only one mile north of Cardiff Central and it's a cute little Suburban Station in the middle of the North part of the city. For a long time you had to kind of fend for yourself here, but now at rush hour they actually have people helping out and employees and what not. It's literally right in the middle of a development of housing, and surrounded by businesses and whatnot which is pretty cool. In fact when you pull up here you will notice that a little shopping center is right next to it - although you have to kind of cross a bridge and walk back down to it. But it's good for your cheap shopping if you need it. They've also made some colourful admissions to some of the buildings here. I meant additions, but maybe they've admitted stuff to the buildings too?

Cathays Railway Station basically has no facilities except a ticket office (manned part time) and a…read moreself-service ticket machine, but the good thing about it is that it's in a safe, residential area where you won't feel threatened hanging around waiting for a train. It only gets busy on the platforms during peak travel times when people are using this line to get to and from the Valleys in one direction, and to and from the city centre in the other direction. It's very convenient for anyone working or studying at the University, which surrounds the station, or for those living in Cathays, as it offers a good alternative to a taxi if you want to get into town quickly without the walk - particularly if you have heavy bags to carry.

This exposed little station in the heart if student-ville is on the main valley line, and is a good…read moreplace to pick up the train to Barry Island for a budget day out in the summer!

Take the National Express when your life's in a mess It'll…read moremake you smile All human life is here From the feeble old dear to the screaming child From the student who knows that to have one of those Would be suicide To the family man Manhandling the pram with paternal pride And everybody sings "ba ba ba da..." We're going where the air is free On the National Express there's a jolly hostess Selling crisps and tea She'll provide you with drinks and theatrical winks For a sky-high fee The Divine Comedy knew about coach travel. So do I. I get lots of coaches. To London. To Bristol. To Swansea. Some journeys are nice, some drivers make amusing announcements on the tannoy. Some overnight ones involve screaming kids and no leg room. Still they are cheap aren't they. That's why we get them. This place is a one-stop shop for coach holidays across the UK and Europe.

This is a massive shop that is situated with the heart of the city centre of Cardiff and it is…read moreopposite the train station and bus station and near to the VUE cinema. They are chirpy, polite and very helpful employees that work for this holiday coach company that have cheap holiday deals. They do trips around the United Kingdom and Europe. A place full of many trip deals for coaches; with many holiday offers, with many holiday companies for loads of different prices for sure... To see the beauty of Planet Earths creation, to learn the history of the Universe and all about the cultures of the United Kingdom and Europe; from London, to Edinburgh, to Swansea, to Brighton and Italy. To have all at the grasp of your feet by sitting in a coach and by travelling on road transport for amazing prices, what more could you ask for? I recommend for all to attend such a place.

Not to be confused with Fail Of Glamorgan Railway, which is an epic fail of a station…read more This is a little line that basically is here to serve all of the people living in the Vale of Glamorgan, so it goes from Barrie to Cardiff and all the towns in between. It's definitely very useful for the people that live around here, and makes it a lot more livable in some ways, but also some people are not too thrilled about it. I guess my one complaint is: It could probably be used more if it were a little bit more convenient and frequent and modern. Not to mention cheaper. I guess that's another complaint then.

Update: September 2014…read more The local authority (which owns the track and facilities) has awarded a tender for its operation to another company, Cambrian Transport, which has long term plans for the site, and after some delays has finally re-opened the site and ran some specials (mostly heritage diesel trains) over the summer. The former operator, Vale of Glamorgan Railway Company, has dispersed much of its stock to other railways in the UK, but will be establishing a new base at Pontycymmer on the Garw Valley Railway, north of Bridgend. ---------------- The Barry Island Railway is a heritage railway, operated by the Vale of Glamorgan Railway Company. Unlike many heritage railways, however, this is not a preserved line as such: indeed, the route runs parallel to the existing suburban line from Cardiff to Barry Island. Instead, the route is on land which was once part of the huge dock complex which made Barry one of the greatest coal exporting ports in the world until the Second World War. In fact, the town of Barry was almost purely the creation of the railway: until the 1880s, it was a series of sleepy villages, and rabbits roamed over Barry Island. However, the coal mine owners were becoming increasingly concerned at the monopoly of the Taff Vale Railway and Cardiff docks on shipping the coal from their mines for export, so the Barry Railway was created to provide an alternative, and an entirely new series of export docks was built between Barry and Barry Island, and opened in 1884. Thereafter, Barry Island also became a seaside resort, with pleasure steamers calling regularly. The history of Barry in recent times has mirrored that of the industrial history of South Wales more generally: as coal mining declined, most of the docks at Barry were closed udring the 1960s and 1970s, and the vast expanse of railway sidings ripped up. At one time, some of the sidings were, famously, owned by Woodhams Brothers' scrapyard, and became a graveyard for hundreds of steam locomotives. Many of these were subsequently saved and are now running on preserved railways. The Barry Island Railway is a more recent invention: it is the marketing name for the heritage line operated by the Vale of Glamorgan Railway Company Ltd. Mainly volunteer run, the line has been steadily extended since its arrival at Barry Island in 1996. Formerly the Butetown Historic Railway Society, based at Bute Road station in Cardiff Bay, the move to Barry saw a change in name and the beginning of train operation. The new base at Plymouth Road station, Barry Island, was opened on June 1st 1997, with the first operations commencing in 1998. The line now runs from Plymouth Road, via Barry Island station and Woodham Halt to Gladstone Halt (recently opened next to Morrisons Supermarket). A short branch also runs down to the Waterfront Station at Hood Road, and trains tend to alternate between the two lines. A quaint feature is that trains stop at the junction for the points to be changed manually. The other feature is that line has a remarkable number of stations in such a short distance. They operate both steam locomotives and heritage diesel trains, and special events such as Santa Specials and Thomas the Tank Engine days. There is also a small shop, museum and small refreshment facility housed in the former main building of Barry Island station. Unfortunately, a number of the facilities are in need of some serious tlc, as there are quite a lot of weeds along parts of the route. However, none of this seems to spoil the fun of the younger visitors! Staff (all volunteers) are very friendly and keen to help. Access for wheelchair users is available at some stations - see the website for details - but not all trains are suitable, so it is advisable to telephone ahead.