Thursday 11 Dec 2014
Alun Cairns tours stations ahead of work to improve accessibility for passengers in Wales
- Region & Route:
- | Wales & Western: Wales & Borders
- | Wales & Western
Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns visited two stations in Cardiff to see how Access for All projects would improve accessibility for passengers.
Step-free access at the stations will benefit disabled people, those with reduced mobility, and also people with children, heavy luggage or shopping, and some more elderly people.
The Wales Office Minister joined representatives from Network Rail, which is carrying out the work, and Arriva Trains Wales to see how the improvements will transform Llandaf and Radyr stations.
James Jackson, enhancements manager for Network Rail Wales, said: “Improving access at stations will make a real difference to passengers by making it easier for people to get to work, or travel to see friends and family.
“This is an important part of our work to build a bigger and better railway for Wales.
“We are delivering a record investment over the next five years to cater for increasing demand and transform the railway in Wales.”
The £2.5m improvement project at Llandaf will include the installation of a new stepped-footbridge with two lifts. This will provide a fully accessible route to platform two, for Cardiff-bound trains, for the first time.
At Radyr, the £3m scheme will include the installation of a new stepped-footbridge with three lifts to help passengers cross more easily between all platforms, providing a fully accessible, step-free route to the station and platforms for the first time.
The work will involve removing lighting columns, repositioning CCTV columns and installing temporary hoarding along both platforms to safeguard the public while works are taking place.
The Department for Transport and Welsh Government funded Access For All scheme is a £12m programme which will see also deliver access improvements to Chirk, Machynlleth, Radyr and Ystrad Mynach stations.
Members of the public who have questions about the programme should call our 24-Hour National Helpline on 08457 11 41 41.
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