Media centre

Wednesday 8 May 2024

Progress being made on accessible footbridge at Cwmbran station as significant milestone is reached

Region & Route:

Wales & Western

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

Network Rail has successfully installed the lift shafts and staircases on platforms 1 and 2 at Cwmbran station as works to make them fully accessible for the first time continue to progress. 

Network Rail welcomed Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds to the station on Friday (3 May) to show him the lift shafts and to discuss the upcoming work. 

The following day, the staircases were installed, with the trestles and main span to follow over the coming weekends to complete the structure for the new footbridge and lifts.

To keep everyone safe, part of the Cwmbran station car park will be closed during the delivery of the crane and bridge element.  

Network Rail’s contractor Centregreat has been on site in Cwmbran since October 2023, with the piling and groundwork substantially complete, and the lift shafts and staircases now installed. All the work is due to be completed by late summer 2024.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, Shadow Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office, said: “I was delighted to be invited by Network Rail to visit Cwmbran train station to see the progress on the installation of the footbridge and lifts, which will make the station fully accessible for passengers.

“A number of constituents have raised this issue with me since I was elected in 2015, so I am pleased to see this work being carried out.  

“I look forward to visiting again when the footbridge and lifts are completed and thank you to everyone involved who has allowed us to get to this stage.”

Will Lawson, sponsor for Network Rail’s Wales and Borders route, said: “We were pleased to welcome Nick Thomas-Symonds to Cwmbran station to see the progress being made. 

“The accessibility improvements we are making mean all passengers – including those with limited mobility, those carrying heavy luggage or those with pushchairs – will have a step-free and accessible route to and between platforms 1 and 2. 

“Greater accessibility and safety benefits everyone and promotes the use of the rail network, allowing for fewer car journeys, less congestion and fewer carbon emissions.”

Cwmbran is one of six stations in Wales and Borders becoming step-free and more accessible, with the improvements being funded by the Department for Transport as part of the UK Government’s Access for All programme.