The Taff Vale and the Llantrisant area became a mesh of railways as the coal industry expanded. The railway between Llantrisant, Tonteg and Pontypridd was opened in 1875.
But it was David Davies, Llandinam, who brought the railway to Efail Isaf in order to improve the transport connections between his coal mines in the Rhondda and his new Docks in Barry.
The railway was completed in 1889 and over a million tons of coal was transported in the first year.
Passengers trains calling at Efail Isaf station started in 1896 and the last train ran on 10 September 1962.
