Transport for Wales has now said it hopes the work will be completed by spring 2023
RAIL users have been waiting nearly three years for redevelopment work at Llandaf railway station to be completed – and say they’ve had enough.
The canopy on platform one of the station, in Llandaff North, has been under refurbishment since before the pandemic began in March 2020, leaving users with limited shelter and no seating.
The digital display board showing departure times is also largely hidden behind temporary hoardings which went up nearly three years ago. But work has been on hold ever since.
However, the delay in refurbishment is due to “unforeseen design alterations” and work should be completed in spring 2023, Transport for Wales has said… three years after it all began.
Peter Mason, 57, has been a regular user of the busy commuter station in the past. He thinks that a shelter on platform one – the city centre-bound platform – is needed.
He said: “I was using it every day for four years until recently.
“It’s always handy to have a shelter because in bad weather everybody gets under it.”
Heulwen Powell, 41, lives closer to Whitchurch station but occasionally uses the Llandaf station as Whitchurch, which is on a different line, has no Sunday services.
Llandaf railway station is situated in Llandaff North at the top of Station Road, but is also close to Whitchurch.
Mrs Powell said: “The shelter has been out of use for a long time. It has been ages.”
A spokesperson for Transport for Wales commented: “Unfortunately, the work to refurbish the canopy on platform one at Llandaf station has been significantly delayed due to unforeseen design alterations.
“We’re now hoping to complete this work by Spring 2023.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.”
Mrs Powell also commented on the lack of seating available for vulnerable or elderly people on platform one.
“For anyone elderly there’s nowhere to sit,” she said.
Christopher Owen, 68, who lives in Llandaff North, also commented on the lack of seating.
He said: “Why do we have to stand outside in the rain with no seating? My wife needs to sit down.”
Residents were also unhappy with the limited visibility of the digital display board showing departure times as it;s currently hidden behind hoardings.
Clare Mason, 49, uses the station to travel to the city centre.
She said: “The biggest bug bear is that you can’t see the notice board.”
A spokesperson for Transport for Wales has said: “As the customer information screens are currently hidden from sight, we advise customers to download the TfW mobile app for live train departure times.”
However, Mrs Mason said that checking train times on an app is not suitable for everyone, including the elderly.
“I don’t have the app on my phone,” she said.
Mr Owen also said that he and his wife do not know how to use apps.
Transport for Wales declined to comment on residents’ issues with lack of seating and reliance on the mobile phone app for departure times.
The canopy refurbishment is part of Transport for Wales’ Station Improvement Vision, which is a £194 million investment plan over 15 years to improve all railways stations in Wales.
The Transport for Wales website states that the “programme will deliver free WiFi, improved shelters, CCTV, improved provision for cycle storage and improved passenger information, at every station.”
The programme was announced in September 2019.
