Editing Pontypridd (section)

==Transport links==
Pontypridd came into being because of transport, as it was on the [[Droving|drovers']] route from the south Wales coast and the [[Bristol Channel]], to Merthyr, and onwards into the hills of [[Brecon]]. Although initial expansion in the valleys occurred at Treforest due to the slower speed of the River Taff at that point, the establishment of better bridge building meant a natural flow of power to Pontypridd.

===Railway===
{{Main|Pontypridd railway station}}
[[File:Pontypridd railway station.jpg|thumb|left|Railway station]]
The establishment of Pontypridd over Treforest was finally confirmed with the building of the [[Glamorganshire Canal]] to serve the coalmines of the Rhondda Valley. However, the volumes of coal extraction soon led to construction of the [[Taff Vale Railway]], which at its peak meant a train passed through [[Pontypridd railway station]] (including the freight lines immediately to its west) every two or three minutes.<ref>"Pontypridd and The Taff Vale Railway", E. Mountford, in ''The Railway and Industrial Heritage of Pontypridd & District'' p. 16, 1985, Taff-Ely BC.</ref> The station was originally built as a long single island, at one point the world's longest platform, a reflection of both the narrow available geography of the steep valley side and the need to accommodate many converging railways lines at what became the 19th-century hub of the valleys.

Due to the restrictive geography, only parcels and mail were handled at Pontypridd. Heavy freight went to {{Stnlnk|Treforest}}. The station today is operated by [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]], which is headquartered in the town. It reflects the fewer destinations served since the [[Beeching cuts|Beeching]] and earlier cuts, with one up (valley) platform, one down (through) platform, a down bay platform (opened in December 2014), and one passing loop.

===Trams, trolleybuses, and buses===
A [[tram]] service began on 6 March 1905 from [[Cilfynydd]] through Pontypridd to Treforest. It gave way on 18 September 1930 to [[trolleybuses]], which on 31 January 1957 were replaced by buses following the same route.