Carno railway station

Carno is a closed railway station in Carno, on the Cambrian Line, that was part of the Newtown and Machynlleth Railway. The station was closed in 1965 as part of the Beeching Cuts though there are plans to re-open it.

Carno
The former railway station in 1986
LocationCarno, Powys
Wales
Coordinates52.5646°N 3.5381°W / 52.5646; -3.5381
Grid referenceSN957974
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyNewtown and Machynlleth Railway
Pre-groupingCambrian Railways
Post-groupingGreat Western Railway
Key dates
3 January 1863 (1863-01-03)Opened
14 June 1965 (1965-06-14)Closed

History

Carno station was opened by the Newtown and Machynlleth Railway which had been incorporated in 1857 to connect the Llanidloes and Newtown Railway with Aberystwyth via Machynlleth.[1][2] The 22 3⁄4-mile (36.6 km) line was leased to the Oswestry and Newtown Railway and services began on 3 January 1863 from Machynlleth, calling at Caersws Junction, Pontdolgoch, Carno, Llanbrynmair and Cemmes Road.[2][3][4] The line was single with passing loops at Carno, Llanbrynmair and Cemmes Road.[5]

The station was situated to the north of Carno, which had a population of 717 in 1901.[6] Two platforms were provided with the main station buildings and generously-sized goods shed situated on the down platform.[7][8] A signal box with 24 levers was erected at the west end of the down platform; it had a staff of four throughout the 1930s.[9] The station was closed to goods traffic on 29 July 1963[10] and to passenger traffic on 14 June 1965[2] following the recommendation for its closure in the Beeching Report.[11]

The line remained open and the station buildings were incorporated into the adjacent Laura Ashley factory complex until its closure in 2005.[12] The signal box remained in service until 21 October 1988 when automatic half barriers were introduced on the level crossing at the west end of the station.[13]

Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Pontdolgoch
Line open, station closed		   Cambrian Railways
Newtown and Machynlleth Railway		   Talerddig
Line open, station closed

Proposed re-opening
See also: Proposed railway stations in Wales

In 2002, the Carno Station Action Group was set up to campaign for the re-opening of the station.[14] An independent report commissioned by the group about the re-opening of the station was positively met by Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail.

In 2009 the Welsh Assembly agreed to examine the proposal as part of the Cambrian Rail Study.[15]

In 2014, the Welsh Assembly confirmed Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail broadly agreed with an independent report recommending the reopening of a station at Carno.[16] However, a new station would need to be built as the original Victorian building (which was incorporated into the former Laura Ashley factory) is in private ownership.[17]

In 2015, the Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth Rail Passenger Association released an aims document that mentions the possibility of reopening the station. Along with Bow Street and Hanwood stations.[18]

In January 2016, Welsh Transport Minister Edwina Hart confirmed that Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail agreed with the conclusions of an independent report in favour of the station's reopening.[19]

On the 10th anniversary of the original petition to the Welsh Assembly, the Carno Station Action Group started a new petition to keep the pressure on the Assembly to reopen the station.[20] The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure for the Welsh Assembly, Ken Skates, confirmed in a letter to the Carno Station Action group in October 2017 that Carno was on the list of stations to go forward to Stage Two of the New Stations Assessment Program.[21] Plans to reopen the station reached the third and final stage in September 2019 when the station was shortlisted for further assessment by Network Rail.[22] If successful, plans for the station will progress to the funding stage.

References
  1. Baughan, Peter E. (1991) [1980]. North and Mid Wales. A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain. 11. Nairn: David St John Thomas. p. 152. ISBN 0-946537-59-3.
  2. Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199.
  3. Baughan (1991), pp. 152-153
  4. Jones, Mark (2008). North Wales. Lost Railways. Newbury: Countryside Books. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-84674-121-0.
  5. Baughan (1991), p. 153
  6. Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (December 2008). Newtown to Aberystwyth including the Van and Dinas Mawddry branches. Western Main Lines. Midhurst: Middleton Press. fig. IX. ISBN 978-1-906008-41-3.
  7. Mitchell & Smith (2008), fig. 31
  8. Kidner, R.W. (1992) [1954]. The Cambrian Railways. Headington: Oakwood Press. p. 104. ISBN 0-85361-439-3.
  9. Mitchell & Smith (2008), fig. 32
  10. Clinker, C.R. (1988) [1978]. Clinker's Register of Closed Passenger Stations and Goods Depots in England, Scotland and Wales 1830–1980 (2nd ed.). Bristol: Avon-Anglia Publications & Services. p. 25. ISBN 0-905466-91-8. OCLC 655703233.
  11. Beeching, Richard (1963). "The Reshaping of British Railways" (PDF). HMSO. p. 127.
  12. Mitchell & Smith (2008), fig. 34
  13. Mitchell & Smith (2008), fig. 35
  14. "Carno Station Action Group". Carno Station Action Group. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  15. "Campaign to reopen station gets a boost". Shropshire Star. 13 August 2009. Archived from the original on 21 August 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  16. "Support to re-open Carno railway station". BBC NEWS. 6 January 2016.
  17. "Laura Ashley shuts 'home' factory". BBC. 25 October 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  18. http://www.sarpa.info/aims.html
  19. Murray, Matthew (6 January 2016). "Support to reopen Carno railway station". BBC News. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  20. "Campaign to reopen Powys train station". BBC News. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  21. "Breakthrough for village station campaign". Cambrian News. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  22. Austin, Sue. "Hopes for Carno station re-opening". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
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