'Queen Victoria' helps Knighton Station celebrations

Knighton's railway station marked its 150th anniversary with a visit from Queen Victoria.

More than 100 people flocked to the station, in Mid Wales, to see the Queen, played by Sue Spoonley, unveil a plaque marking the anniversary.

She unveiled a plaque, spoke to members of Knighton's Platform Pals, which looks after the station, before being whisked away for a buffet. Shauna Davies, a member of Platform Pals, said she was delighted to mark the occasion in such a special way.

She said: "It was absolutely wonderful to welcome Queen Victoria to Knighton Station to mark our 150th anniversary.

"About 100 people turned up and enjoyed the fun of the occasion and we really celebrated the birthday well."

The 22-mile section of the Heart of Wales line from Craven Arms to Knighton was built in 1861 and runs through mid and south-west Wales.

The station employed about 25 people in the 1940s, when there were six passenger trains a day in both directions and a freight train every 24 hours.

Today just four trains a day travel in each direction, and its supporters argue that it is under-used.

In the 1960s the Heart of Wales line came under threat from the Beeching review, the British Government's attempt to reduce the cost of running the railways, but a campaign to save the line was a success.

David Edwards of the Heart of Wales Line forum said the route was "sadly under-utilised".

There are plans to increase the number of trains running on the line, but to one extra service would cost £800,000, he said.