Improving station accessibility in Wales and Borders
We are working in partnership with the Department for Transport and Transport for Wales to improve accessibility at six stations on Wales and Borders.
Work is progressing well at Flint, Abergavenny, Cwmbran, Llanelli and Newtown stations as they are all set to get brand-new footbridges with lifts, while Ludlow station will see a lift added to its existing footbridge.
This will mean all passengers – especially those with reduced mobility, carrying heavy luggage or with pushchairs – will have a step-free, accessible route to and between platforms.
Accessibility benefits everyone, it also promotes the use of the rail network and allows for fewer car journeys, less congestion and carbon emissions.
These improvements are funded by the Department for Transport as part of the Access for All programme.
Recently improved stations
We have already completed Access for All schemes at Cadoxton and Barry stations, taking the railway another step closer to being fully accessible in Wales and Borders.
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Abergavenny
We are upgrading Abergavenny station with a brand-new footbridge and lifts to make the station fully accessible, for the first time.
How is the project progressing?
Work has progressed well on site after some challenges with an existing culvert running under the track which has now been successfully diverted. Piling is now complete and foundation works are being finalised.
We have reached an important milestone in the project as we will be installing the new spans, stairs, glazing, scaffolding and lift shafts over the following three weekends:
- 7-8 September
- 14-15 September
- 21-22 September
What work is being carried out at the station?
We will be installing: the new footbridge and lifts; new lighting; new telecoms systems; new CCTV; and upgrades to station facilities.
Will the work impact passengers?
During the three weekends listed above the station will be closed and all lines will be closed, and buses will replace trains between Newport and Shrewsbury.
So that the work can be safely completed, the station car park will be closed from Friday 30 August to Monday 23 September. The nearby overflow car park, however, will remain open for passengers. We are urging motorists to avoid parking in local streets to keep everyone safe and avoid congestion.
For those attending the Abergavenny Food Festival on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, please be advised that a rail replacement service will operate on both north and southbound journeys between Shrewsbury/Hereford and Newport. Passengers are urged to check before they travel and to allow additional time to complete their journeys.
We plan to complete the project by early 2025.
Flint
We are upgrading Flint station with a brand-new footbridge and lifts.
What’s the latest with the work?
Piling has now been completed and foundation works are being finalised ahead of the installation of the steelwork.
We will be installing the new spans, stairs and lift shafts over Saturday night shifts, starting on Saturday 17 August and finishing on Sunday 15 September.
Will the work impact passengers?
To keep the public safe during the arrival and set up of the crane and delivery of the bridge element, Flint station car park will be closed to the public from Saturday 3 August to Sunday 15 September. Alternative car parking is available at Richard Heights, CH6 5BR and Bollingbrook Heights, CH6 5AQ.
The signposted pedestrian diversion is still in place to keep passengers safe around the construction site for the duration of the work.
We plan to complete the project by the end of 2024.
Newtown
We are upgrading Newtown station with a brand-new footbridge and lifts and plan to complete the work by autumn 2024.
What’s the latest with the work?
The footbridge structure has been successfully installed and the lift towers cladded. The installation of the lifts has now started on site and will then be tested before being ready for passenger use soon.
Llanelli
We are upgrading Llanelli station with a brand-new footbridge and lifts.
What’s the latest with the work?
The new footbridge was successfully installed in the spring and the lifts are currently being installed on site. Once the lifts are installed and the new footbridge has passed all the operational requirements to open for passengers, we will start the demolition of the current footbridge.
We plan to complete the new footbridge and lifts by autumn 2024.
It is worth noting that we have been housing some birds nesting in the new footbridge structure and whilst we monitor our friends daily, they may impact our programme.
Cwmbran
We are upgrading Cwmbran station with a brand-new footbridge and lifts.
What’s the latest with the work?
The new footbridge was successfully installed in the spring and the lifts are currently being installed on site. Once the lifts are installed and the new footbridge has passed all the operational requirements to open for passengers, we will start the demolition of the current footbridge.
We plan to complete the new footbridge and lifts by the end of autumn 2024.
Ludlow
We are upgrading Ludlow station with the installation of a brand-new fully accessible lift onto the existing footbridge on platform 1. With the existing access ramp to platform 2, this project will mean that for the first time, both platforms 1 and 2 at Ludlow will be fully accessible.
What’s the latest with the work?
We have made significant progress and are now in the final weeks of the work before starting to commission the lifts for two weeks and complete the handover. We expect the lift to be opened for passengers in September with more information to follow soon.
The traffic management arrangement has now been removed since late July however we will need to re-instate the lane closure for three days at the end of August. This is to install the copers on the retaining wall and will be in touch once we have a date for that.
Get in touch
If you have any additional questions or concerns about the work taking place in your area please call our dedicated 24-hour National Helpline on: 03457 11 41 41 or visit our contact us page.
If you would like to join our monthly newsletter, please email us at crwales@networkrail.co.uk.
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