Pont Croesor railway station : Ask Biography

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Pont Croesor is a railway station in Wales, on the Welsh Highland Railway, which runs through the Snowdonia National Park from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. It is located on the section between the stations of Hafod y Llyn and Pen-y-Mount Junction.

The station was officially opened on 26 May 2010 and was the WHR's temporary terminus, having previously opened to passengers on 22 May 2010. The previous terminus at Hafod y Llyn is now closed.

Originally, as part of the Croesor Tramway, there was a siding at this location but no station. When the WHR was initially built in 1923, the siding was lengthened at the northern end. All trace of this was removed when the line was lifted.

The line from Pont Croesor to Porthmadog Harbour has been connected since early 2009, being available for stock transfer purposes. It opened to timetabled passenger services on 8 January 2011.

The station has a full length platform on the west side of the loop. The station site is adjacent to Pont Croesor bridge, which crosses the River Glaslyn, and is a hybrid road/rail bridge, as each uses the same piers. The bridge was extensively modified in appearance recently to feature standard safety barriers. The new loop was finally completed, for operational purposes, on 13 March 2010.

The station is adjacent to the RSPB Glaslyn Osprey Project viewing site, from where the public can see the nesting place of a pair of ospreys which have successfully raised chicks every year since 2005. The majority of the WHR's construction in this area has been carried out whilst the birds are abroad in the winter months, in order to keep disturbance to a minimum.

With commencement of the 2011 season there is a second platform serving the other part of the loop.