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 has now started 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 limited 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.
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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?
Our contractor Centregreat has been on site since December 2023 and work has been progressing well by diverting cables and preparing before the piling work. We have also set up an access road off the A465 so that we can transport materials and machinery to site without impacting passengers and the local community.
We plan to complete the project by winter 2024.
What work is being carried out at the station?
During 2024, 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?
As part of our work, we will be fencing off areas around the station to store materials and machinery. This will reduce the availability of parking spaces near the station for the duration of the works and some will be removed permanently.
Please note that the station will remain open to passengers during our work.
Flint
We are upgrading Flint station with a brand-new footbridge and lifts.
What’s the latest with the work?
Our contractor Amco Giffen set up the site compound in November 2023. Since then, preparation work has been carried out at the station, which includes installing a temporary bridge to divert cables from the old one.
The team have now successfully removed the old footbridge and re-opened the station car park. This means passengers will need to use the alternative footbridge at the end of the platform until the new footbridge and lifts are completed.
Please follow the signage around the station.
We plan to complete the project by summer 2024.
Newtown
We are upgrading Newtown station with a brand-new footbridge and lifts and plan to complete the work by summer 2024.
What’s the latest with the work?
Our contractors Amco Giffen have completed the piling work at the station and have now started to work on the concrete base on Platforms 1 and 2. Work is also underway on fabricating the footbridge as well as the lifts before being transported to site.
Any impact on passengers?
To help with our ongoing work at the station, all passenger services from Saturday, 24th February will be using Platform 2 unless otherwise stated.
This change will be in place for approximately 7 weeks. We know how inconvenient this will be for passengers using the station, and we would like to apologise for the ongoing disruption.
Llanelli
We are upgrading Llanelli station with a brand-new footbridge and lifts.
What’s the latest with the work?
We have been on site since December 2023, preparing for the piling work to take place.
We have reached an important stage of the project as we will be installing the new spans, stairs and lift shafts over Saturday night shifts in March, April and May.
To keep the public safe for the arrival and set up of the crane and delivery of the bridge element, we will be closing parts of the Great Western Crescent around Llanelli station from Saturday 12:00 to Sunday 16:00.
We will be working between 23:50 – 09:40 on the dates listed below:
- Saturday 30 March
- Saturday 6 April
- Saturday 13 April
- Saturday 20 April
- Saturday 27 April
- Saturday 4 May
- Saturday 18 May
- Saturday 25 May
- Saturday 1 June
We ask that cars are not parked on the road during the closure of Great Western Crescent from Saturday lunchtime to Sunday afternoon. The below map shows which parts of the road will be closed and the diversionary route in place over the weekend work.
Please note that the station will remain open to passengers during our work.
Cwmbran
We are upgrading Cwmbran station with a brand-new footbridge and lifts.
What’s the latest with the work?
Since starting on site in October 2023 the team have:
- Set up site and the site compound
- Completed piling work on both sides of the platform
- Poured concrete for raft slabs on platforms 1 and 2
- Started building steel-reinforced retaining walls on extended platform area.
Will the work impact passengers?
This week the team will be closing a few car parking spaces so that we can mark new disabled parking spaces. This work will be carried out overnight from Monday 11 to Friday 15 March 2024.
Please note that we have fenced off some areas around the station to store materials and machinery which will mean less parking spaces available.
Ludlow
We are upgrading Ludlow station with the installation of brand-new fully accessible lifts onto the existing footbridge on platform 1. This project will mean that both platforms 1 and 2 at Ludlow will be fully accessible for the first time.
What’s the latest with the work?
Since being on site in October 2023, the team have carried out:
- Most of the ducting has been installed on both platforms and the bases for the columns have been excavated and concreted.
- Sheet piles have been installed for trench support and excavation of the lift pit has started.
- Lifting the new lift shaft and operating equipment.
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.
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.