Tonfanau railway station

Tonfanau railway station is a railway stop that serves Tonfanau in Gwynedd, Wales. The station is located alongside the ruins of the army base it once served and only a couple of occupied buildings can be found within the surrounding area.

Tonfanau
General information
Location	Tonfanau, Gwynedd Wales
Coordinates	52.614°N 4.124°W / 52.614; -4.124
Grid reference	SH563038
Managed by	Transport for Wales
Platforms	1
Other information
Station code	TNF
Classification	DfT category F2
Passengers
2019/20	2,158
2020/21	190
2021/22	1,116
2022/23	1,556
2023/24	2,380
Location
Notes Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

The station, which was opened by the Cambrian Railways, first appeared in Bradshaw in July 1896.^[1] Due to the deteriorating condition of the platforms, British Rail had considered withdrawing services as from 14 May 1984, but the station was reprieved with minimum maintenance on the grounds of 'educational journeys and the occasional passenger'.^[2]

The question of closure was revisited by British Rail in the 1990s when it requested the permission of the Secretary of State for Transport to close Tonfanau and three other Cambrian Coast stations (namely Abererch, Llandecwyn and Tygwyn). Their winter 1995/96 timetable featured only one northbound and three southbound trains Mondays to Saturdays, with a note that the service may be withdrawn before 1 June 1996.^[3] Permission for the closure was refused and the station structure has had to be upgraded to meet modern standards with a new platform, signage and platform lighting. Unusually, the remote location of the station relative to mains services has led to its lighting being powered by its own miniature wind turbine.

Services

The station is an unstaffed halt on the Cambrian Coast Railway with passenger services to Barmouth, Harlech, Porthmadog and Pwllheli northbound and Tywyn, Aberdovey, Machynlleth and Shrewsbury. Most southbound trains continue through to Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International.^[4] Trains stop on request.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Llwyngwril		Transport for Wales Cambrian Coast Line		Tywyn
	Historical railways
Llangelynin Line open, station closed		Cambrian Railways Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway		Towyn Line and station open