Media centre

Monday 19 Sep 2011

RAIL ACCESS FOR ALL IN WALES BEGINS AT BRIDGEND

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Work to improve step-free access at Bridgend railway station has started.

Passengers from Bridgend station will soon benefit from a new footbridge, complete with lifts and stairs, making access between the station entrance, ticket office and platforms much easier for everyone, particularly people with reduced mobility.

The £2.4m improvement is part of the national ‘Access for All’ scheme, backed by the Department for Transport, that aims to provide step-free access to around 145 stations in England, Wales and Scotland.

The new footbridge and two lifts are also designed to provide passengers with a safe and secure environment, where they are well-lit and equipped with CCTV and telephones. The platforms will also be refurbished with tactile paving.

Mark Langman, route managing director for Wales, Network Rail, said: “Wales relies on rail so it’s vital that we provide facilities which make the railway easier to use, safer and more accessible for everyone. Whether you’re lugging heavy bags, have small children in tow or simply find the stairs a bit of a struggle, the improvements being to be made at Bridgend will make a real difference to passengers.

“We know modern stations with easy access are important to passengers in Wales and we will continue work hard to achieve even more successes for them.”

Ian Bullock, customer services director for Arriva Trains Wales said: “These works are part of a wider programme by Department for Transport to improve accessibility at a number of stations we operate. We are also working with the Welsh Government to reduce stepping distances at more than 30 stations as part of our plans to improve access to our trains and stations. As an organisation we will continue to work with our industry partners to improve the journey experience even further.”

The work to improve the accessibility at Bridgend is due to complete by early 2012.

Bridgend station was opened in 1850 and today, it serves more than 1.6m passengers on average each year. As the existing footbridge was not built with ramps, passengers with reduced mobility will have to rely on assistance from station staff to access the platforms via a level crossing or a controlled gate from the road.