Learn about Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Station, its history, location, and unique features. Discover the station’s fascinating name, its connection to the village, and its role in Welsh railway heritage. Find out about the challenges of preservation and its significance to the local community.
The station is famous for its very long name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. But this name was made up during Victorian times for tourists and wasn’t used historically. It includes the whole name of the village, some local geography details, and even the name of a nearby church. People usually don’t use the hyphens in the name. The longest actual railway station name in Wales and the entire UK is Rhoose Cardiff International Airport railway station.
Established in 1848, the station experienced a devastating fire on November 13, 1865, necessitating a complete reconstruction effort. Following its closure in 1966, the station was revived in 1970, prompted by the fire incident at the Britannia Bridge. During this period, it served as the terminal station for trains from Holyhead, featuring a solitary wooden platform.
After a brief closure in January 1973, lasting four months, the station underwent renovations and emerged with two new non-wooden platforms. Notably, the station master’s residence, once an integral part of the station complex, was sold to a private company in 1994 and has since transformed into a warehouse shop.
Certain original elements of the station have endured the test of time, including the footbridge connecting the twin platforms – a distinctive feature as the sole such bridge on the entire island. Additionally, the signal box remains a testament to the station’s historical layout. Regrettably, elements like the turntable, sidings, and goods yard have faded, their presence now concealed beneath a car park. This evolving narrative encapsulates the station’s journey through calamities, closures, rebirth, and modern alterations, contributing to its storied heritage.
25 Interesting Facts About Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Station in Wales
- It has the longest place name of any railway station in Britain and second longest in the world, and one of the longest in the world at 58 characters.
- The station is more commonly known as Llanfairpwll railway station or Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll.
- It is located on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales and is on the North Wales Coast Line. It is accessible by train from Bangor and Holyhead.
- Llanfairpwllgwyngyll Railway Station was opened on March 1, 1848, as a part of the Chester and Holyhead Railway.
- The long form of the name was created in the 1860s as a publicity stunt to attract tourists.
- The name roughly translates to “St Mary’s church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the church of St Tysilio near the red cave.”
- Signs at the station and announcements on trains truncate the name to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll.
- The main attraction at the station is the sign with the long name. The sign is 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide. It is made of cast iron and painted white. The sign was installed in 1955.
- The station has the longest railway platform sign in Britain at 130 feet long.
- Queen Elizabeth II engraved the station’s full name on a slate when she visited in May 2011 to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee.
- It is a request stop, so passengers must signal to the conductor if they want to board or alight from a train.
- The station is unmanned with no ticket facilities, so travellers must buy tickets in advance or on the train.
- Around 150,000 passengers use the station every year.
- The record for the fastest train announcement of the station name is 15.9 seconds.
- Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is said to be the longest domain name ever registered.
- The village near the station holds an annual festival for people who pronounce the name correctly.
- The name is featured in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest place name.
- The station has appeared in films, TV shows, books, and records for its unique long name.
- The name translates to 58 characters in Welsh but only 51 in English.
- The station is located just 10 miles from Britain’s former smallest station, Tywyn Wharf.
- Usually, around 5-10 trains per hour stop at the station.
- It takes about 2 hours to get to London by train from Llanfairpwll Station.
- The station provides access to the village, the Britannia Bridge, and Bangor.
- Trains first arrived at the station in 1848 but did not have a long name until later.
- There are 15 syllables in the full name when pronounced in Welsh.
- Visitors can also walk to the Menai Bridge, which is a short distance from the station. The Menai Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects the island of Anglesey to the mainland of Wales. It was built in 1826 and is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the world.
- In 2012, the station was featured in the film “The World’s End”.
- In 2009, the station was voted the “Best Station in Wales” by the National Rail Passenger Council.
- The station has been rebuilt twice, once in 1865 after a fire and again in 1966 after a storm.
- The name of the station is often mispronounced by tourists. The correct way to pronounce the name is “llan-vi-air-pool-guin-gill-go-ger-u-cher-ndroo-bool-llanty-si-li-o-go-goch”.
- The station is also home to a number of ghost stories. One story tells of a headless railway worker who haunts the platform. Another story tells of a woman killed by a train in the 19th century.
- The station is a popular destination for buskers, who often perform under the sign with the long name
- The station is also known as “The Station with the Longest Name in Britain”. 2018 the station was named the “Most Instagrammed” station in the United Kingdom. The station is also known as the “Station of Smiles” because of the friendly and welcoming staff.
- Despite its lengthy name, the station is often referred to simply as Llanfairpwll or Llanfair PG for convenience.
- The station building features traditional Welsh architectural elements, including a pitched slate roof and stone walls.
- The station has two platforms and is unmanned, meaning there are no ticketing facilities or staff present at the station.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll Railway Station is a popular tourist attraction due to its unique name and its connection to the village with the longest place name in the UK.Visitors often take photographs with the station sign, showcasing the challenging spelling and pronunciation of the village’s name. The station has been featured in various media, including television programs, documentaries, and travel shows, further increasing its recognition.
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