The railway, bringing, as it did, coal from the South Wales Valleys to the docks at Barry, has long been important to the local economy. Barry station opened in 1899 and predominantly serves the western end of town, between the docks and the seaside resort of Barry Island. Trains to Barry include regular eastbound services to Cardiff Central, with some continuing on to Merthyr or Aberdare, and westbound services to Barry Island and Bridgend.
The town of Barry has two main shopping areas. The High Street in the west of the town is the closest to Barry station and is a five-minute walk away. The other, Holton Road, is a fifteen-minute walk along Broad Street. On the way, you will pass close to the Memorial Hall and Theatre and the Memo Arts Centre. Between the railway and the docks is the Barry Waterfront, a redeveloped retail and residential area.