during both wars. During the First World War, the Grand Fleet (based at Scapa Flow) had to be supplied with, on average, 100,000 tons of coal each week. The coal trains that maintained the supply were called Jellicoe Specials (named after Admiral Jellicoe) and most were marshalled at Pontypool Road before travelling to Grangemouth docks. The Second World War saw again a growth in trains but less coal as the Royal Navy was now generally oil powered. ROF Glascoed munitions and armaments factory was served by the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway which branched from the mainline at Little Mill. Although a major junction, Pontypool was not the target of any German raids during the war. Decline Pontypool had more centrally-located stations on branch lines, including Pontypool Blaendare Road, Pontypool Clarence Street and Pontypool Crane Street, but Pontypool Road was by far the biggest. Indeed, at its peak it was one of the busiest junctions in the country. As the railways went into decline in the 1950s the area was particularly badly hit by closures. The passenger service to Usk and Monmouth was withdrawn in 1955, the local branch line from Newport to Blaenavon was closed in April 1962 and in June 1964 the passenger service to Neath was withdrawn leaving Pontypool Road, as a main-line station, the only one remaining in the area. By the late 1970s the station was down to just 14 passenger trains a day on weekdays. Over the years the situation improved and by 2019 the station saw more than twice that number, but almost half of the passenger trains on the line go through without stopping. In 1972 it was renamed to simply Pontypool. The British Railways totem sign for Pontypool Road has been preserved in the nearby Torfaen Museum. The station underwent significant refurbishment in 1994. This involved the demolition of the last surviving major building (that housed the ticket office, offices for railway maintenance personnel and space for a local scout group). The station name was once again changed to the current geographically descriptive name at this time. Facilities The station has limited facilities due to its small size today and lack of great commuter use. There is a shelter that serves both sides of the island platform, digital CIS displays, a payphone and a customer help point. Tickets must be bought prior to travel using the ticket machine at the