Three Platforms and a Dream: Why Barry Island Station Needs a Wake-Up Call

Picture this: families piling off excursion trains, coffee in hand from a charming local café inside the old station building. Platforms bustling, Barry Island buzzing. Sounds like a dream, right?

Well — we’re only three platforms and a bit of ambition away.

Let’s talk about Barry Island station

It should be a key gateway — but right now? It’s operating at about 33% of its potential. That’s not a statistic — that’s a cry for help.

  • Platform 1 is the one we all use now 

  • Platform 2 sits unused because it needs track relaying.

  • Platform 3 is too short for longer excursion trains, fenced off from Platform 2 like they’re not even mates, despite being two sides of the same island platform.

All three are physically connected. If you’re on one, you’re seconds away from the others. And they all have access to the station entrance - so this isn’t a complicated rebuild. It’s mostly a matter of willpower and investment.

So what should we do?

Here’s the dream - and it’s not that far-fetched.

Platform 1
It's the one currently in use but it wouldn't be capable of handling the amount of passengers that will head to Barry Island in the future, as well as increased capacity we also need remove the hideous fence between the train and station near the buffer stop.

Relaying track to Platform 2
Let’s get that line live again. It’s wasted space right now. Put it to work bringing in visitors.

Platform 3
We could be welcoming holidaymakers from further afield - not just Cardiff and the Valleys. Give it the love it needs to roll out the red carpet.

Remove the fence between Platforms 2 and 3
They’re part of the same island platform. Passengers should be able to move freely across them, not feel like they’ve crossed into a train-themed escape room.

Increase services from the Valleys (some via City Line)

The more options we give people to get here, the more will come. We’re perfectly placed to be a seaside destination for huge parts of South Wales - but we need the capacity to match the demand.

Introduce GWR or regional excursion links
Let’s dream big. Barry isn’t just for South Wales - it could be a destination for Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and beyond. Platform 3 being reopened makes this possible.

Open the station building and rent it out to a local café
This is a no-brainer. Instead of letting the station building sit there gathering dust, let’s rent it out to a local business. A coffee shop, a bakery, a souvenir stall — something that welcomes people to Barry in a way that’s warm, authentic, and homegrown.

Why does this matter?

More platforms mean more trains. More trains mean more visitors. More visitors mean more business, more jobs, more buzz. And all of that builds the case for more services, more improvements, and more attention on Barry Island as a top destination.

This isn’t just about transport. It’s about pride, potential, and putting Barry on the map in a big way.

Let’s do it. Three platforms and a dream - that’s all we need.


Barry Island Train Station (Rail Technology Magazine)

Barry Island Train Station platform 2

Barry Island Train Station Platform 1

Barry Island Station Platform 2

     

             
Barry Island Train Station Platform 1&2


Barry Island Train Station (Gareth James - Railway Herald)

Location: Barry Island, Barry CF62 5AJ, UK

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