The Welsh Government and the Department of Transport are set to spend nearly £5m on improving access at two railway stations in Cardiff.
Radyr train station and Llandaff train station will benefit from the Access for All programme. Llandaff station will sees the installation of new stepped footbridge with two lifts. This will provide a fully accessible route to platform two for the first time. The project will also provide an accessible drop off point at Llandaff, disabled car park spaces, improved station signage and some new tactile paving. Work will start in May and is due to be completed by the end of 2014.
Radyr train station will benefit from a stepped footbridge and three lifts, which will serve all three platforms. The project will provide a fully accessible route to the station and platforms for the first time. Work at Radyr will start in June and should be completed by February 2015.
The project also sees train stations at Chirk, Machynlleth and Ystrad Mynach in Wales benefit from improvements with the total cost of all five stations reaching about £12m.
Transport minister Edwina Hart announced the plans yesterday. She said:
“The scheme will greatly improve access to the stations and ensure more people can use the train. This is another significant investment by the Welsh Government to meet our objectives of delivering a modern, accessible and affordable rail system for Wales.
“Public transport is a vital way for many people, including some of the most vulnerable in our society, to access jobs and services. I want to make sure our rail stations are accessible to all and offer a comfortable experience for passengers.”
The whole programme is funded by £7m from the Welsh Government and £5m from the Department of Transport. Network Rail will be carrying out all the work.
Mark Langham, route managing director at Network Rail Wales, said: “These enhancements will help passengers get access to platforms and cross more easily between them through the installation of new footbridges with ramps or lifts.
“Step-free access not only benefits disabled passengers or those with reduced mobility, but also people with children, heavy luggage or shopping. In most cases, the improvements will open up the stations and the rail network to users who may not have been able to access them previously.”
