Yes it seems a shear waste of money to spend on something and then watch it crumbling through vandalism, just like most things in Cynon Valley it would seem nobody is interested anymore.
Later part of the Great Western Railway the line opened on 24th September 1851 from Neath to Aberdare, the initial passenger service was from Aberdare to Neath three on weekdays and two on Sundays.
If you are interested in the old line a book Mountain Ash to Neath by Vic Mitchell and Keith Smith pub by Middleton Press lots of old photographs of the station and engine sheds in Robertstown.

http://www.aberdareonline.co.uk/category/image-galleries/cynon-valley/ab...

Welshgit
To see this is heartbreaking - I was brought up in the valley and remember this station as being a hive of activity. I cannot believe that the valley's 'elected representatives' can allow this neglect to continue - and actually sleep at night.
What is the matter with you people? Are you all so apathetic and lethargic that you really don't give a damn?.
It took a lot of hard work and negotiating to get the rail service back to Aberdare, there's currently a plan under discussion to extend the service to Hirwaun and you think it's acceptable to allow this lovely old station building to fall into this state. This station could be a real benefit to the town, for goodness sake, even the canopy stanchions are still in place!!.
If this is indicative of the interest your 'councillors' or whatever you call them have in the town, is there any wonder that what was once known as the 'Queen of the Valleys' now resembles a third world slum?.
Heritage?? - R.C.T. don't know the meaning of the word!!>
I really do despair..............

It's a funny thing but, although the Welsh people think themselves patriotic and proud of where they come from in the principality there is a history of not looking after one's environment there, The valleys especially have always suffered from mindless vandalisim as if no-one really cares much about where they live. Just look at the litter floating around the streets, It's common practice and mostly always has been, to call at the local fish & chip shop and enjoy a feed on the way home from the club or pictures only to throw down the paper rubbish without any hesitation or thought as to how your town is going to look.

I was born and bred in the valleys and seen it happen more times than I like to confess and it makes me just as sad to see today when I visit as it did many years ago as a resident.

Funny people the Welsh.

Y ddreanen, I do agree with you up to a point, but you say "don't blame the people as it's the council". Well let's face it, It's the people that put the council in and as you and I know the people of the valleys have for donkeys years voted in the same party people that have ignored their desires and wishes once they have been voted into power.

They have always been able to do what they like because of the apathy there towards a Labour council or government that can rely on the support of the people and until they vote with their brain and not by tradition that's how it will carry on.

Do you think they could get away with what they have and still do in any other part of the country. I don't think they could.

As I said previously, Funny people the Welsh.

I note your reply Y ddraenen and basically we seem to agree but I wonder why the valley people are so apathetic towards their environment and allow councils to rule their lives the way they have for more years than I care to remember.

As I said previously, What goes on in the valleys would never be tolerated in most other parts of the country, There would be uproar if they tried but the valley people seem to put up with a party that has let them down continually for many many years.

I was born and raised in Tylorstown, Rhondda Fach and a couple of years ago they made a new road from Porth up to Pontygwaith along what used to be the old railway and indeed it has made a big difference in the travelling time for aproximately 4 miles but there was only another 3 miles to go to finish the project that would have seen the road benefit the residents of the rest of the valley up to Maerdy But no, It stopped at the border of Pontygwaith and Tylorstown which was rediculous really when all the equipment was already there to finish the job properly.

The excuse for not doing so was that they had run out of money but that road was the first section of roadway to be upgraded in that area for about 70 years that I know of so given the amount of wealth that was taken out of the valley in that time in coal alone I think it is a bloody digrace that they fobbed off the Rhondda Fach residents with just 4 miles of new road.

At one time councillors used to be voluntary with just nominal fees granted for out of pocket expenses and maybe a cup of tea and a biscuit at meetings but now they are getting full weeks wages of 500 pounds or more for a part time job and do a far worse job than they used to. No wonder there's no money left.

A friend of mine has had a water leak fixed outside his house in the Rhondda no less than 8 times within a year or two so where's the effiency in that, it certainly isn't economical to say the least and why has the council allowed situations like that to occur, Surely they could have monitored that fiasco better than that.

George Maslin ( A great hard working and dilligent former councillor of yesteryear. Not a Labour man for sure.) must be turning in his grave to see what's happening there today.

Wake Up People It's Your Money They're Spending.