Chepstow railway station
Encyclopedia
Chepstow railway station is a part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail
and is operated by Arriva Trains Wales
. Chepstow station is on the Gloucester to Newport Line
. It is located within 300 metres (984.3 ft) of the town centre, at Station Road, Chepstow
. Chepstow is a historic walled border town and ancient port
, situated at the southern end of the Wye Valley
, two hours from London
.
The line continues east from the station to Gloucester
over the Chepstow railway bridge. It was formerly the junction station for the Wye Valley Railway
to Monmouth Troy Station until this line closed to passengers in 1959. The railway has since been extensively rationalised and currently consists of a double track line with a trailing crossover to the east of the station, plus some disused track in the former yard.
Although numerous trains pass through the station, the local train service is sporadic, running at best an hourly service in each direction. A local campaign has been established, with the support of the local MP, Welsh Assembly members, County Council and town council, to improve rail services to the town.
The station is unmanned apart from occasional Saturday mornings or when major events occur at the Millennium Stadium
in Cardiff
when a temporary kiosk may be opened. Train times are on an electronic board with up to date information of the train times.
Station buildings on the Gloucester
/Birmingham
side are traditional stone and timber-built structures, the canopy
providing plenty of shelter. Unfortunately, on the more popular Newport
/Cardiff
side, there is just a small breeze block-built shelter.
Access to this platform is via a wooden footbridge, making it difficult for passengers with pushchairs and the old and the infirm to cross.
The nearest bus stop
is a 5 minute walk away in the Tesco
car park, however the service from here is infrequent and consists of just a local service. Chepstow bus station is approx half a kilometre further; from here buses to a wider area may be found.
On race days, special buses are normally laid on to convey racegoers to and from Chepstow racecourse
, this is a walk of approximately half an hour's duration.
There is limited station parking available, with a free car park nearby of about 50 spaces.
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
and is operated by Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
. Chepstow station is on the Gloucester to Newport Line
Gloucester to Newport Line
The Gloucester to Newport Line is a railway line that runs along the bank of the River Severn in the United Kingdom from Gloucester to Newport....
. It is located within 300 metres (984.3 ft) of the town centre, at Station Road, Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
. Chepstow is a historic walled border town and ancient port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
, situated at the southern end of the Wye Valley
Wye Valley
The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales. It is one of the most dramatic and scenic landscape areas in southern Britain....
, two hours from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The line continues east from the station to Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
over the Chepstow railway bridge. It was formerly the junction station for the Wye Valley Railway
Wye Valley Railway
The Wye Valley Railway was a standard gauge railway that ran for nearly between Chepstow and Monmouth along the lower part of the scenic Wye Valley in Monmouthshire, Wales, and Gloucestershire, England. It followed the route of the River Wye for most of its length...
to Monmouth Troy Station until this line closed to passengers in 1959. The railway has since been extensively rationalised and currently consists of a double track line with a trailing crossover to the east of the station, plus some disused track in the former yard.
Although numerous trains pass through the station, the local train service is sporadic, running at best an hourly service in each direction. A local campaign has been established, with the support of the local MP, Welsh Assembly members, County Council and town council, to improve rail services to the town.
The station is unmanned apart from occasional Saturday mornings or when major events occur at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
when a temporary kiosk may be opened. Train times are on an electronic board with up to date information of the train times.
Station buildings on the Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
/Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
side are traditional stone and timber-built structures, the canopy
Canopy (building)
A canopy is an overhead roof or else a structure over which a fabric or metal covering is attached, able to provide shade or shelter. A canopy can also be a tent, generally without a floor....
providing plenty of shelter. Unfortunately, on the more popular Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
/Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
side, there is just a small breeze block-built shelter.
Access to this platform is via a wooden footbridge, making it difficult for passengers with pushchairs and the old and the infirm to cross.
The nearest bus stop
Bus stop
A bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers to board or leave a bus. These are normally positioned on the highway and are distinct from off-highway facilities such as bus stations. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage...
is a 5 minute walk away in the Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
car park, however the service from here is infrequent and consists of just a local service. Chepstow bus station is approx half a kilometre further; from here buses to a wider area may be found.
On race days, special buses are normally laid on to convey racegoers to and from Chepstow racecourse
Chepstow Racecourse
Chepstow Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located just outside the town of Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Wales, near the southern end of the Wye Valley which forms the border with England...
, this is a walk of approximately half an hour's duration.
There is limited station parking available, with a free car park nearby of about 50 spaces.