09.11.12
£40m Welsh station upgrade remit widened
Stations at Rhyl, Port Talbot Parkway, Aberystwyth, Pontypridd and Ystrad Mynach are to be upgraded as part of the second round of improvement works in Wales.
Improvements will include an upgraded station environment, as well as step free access.
The total £40m Wales Station Improvement Programme has also covered £7.9m works at Swansea, £1m at Porthmadog Harbour station and £5m at Llandudno in the first wave of improvements.
The funding comes from the European Regional Development Fund, the Welsh Government and Arriva Trains Wales.
Transport minister Carl Sargeant said: “Developing a truly sustainable transport network in Wales is vital if we are to further encourage the public to use rail more frequently.
“By developing train stations that are cleaner, more accessible and safer we will encourage more people to consider taking the train over the car.
“In the short term these projects will also provide a boost to local economies as local employment will be used in the refurbishment of the stations.
“In the longer term each scheme will have a positive impact on their surrounding areas by providing positive first impressions, reducing congestion and potentially act as catalysts for future investment in the regions.”
Network Rail will delivering the scheme on behalf of the Welsh Government. Mark Langman, Network Rail’s route managing director, said: “Stations are the shop window for the railway and this improvement programme will encourage even more people onto the trains at a time when we are seeing record passenger numbers.
“Importantly this investment will greatly enhance the gateway to these locations as well as helping to regenerate and revitalise the communities they are in.”
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