A £21m boost to improve train stations across west Wales and the Valleys has today been announced by Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones.
Under the Wales Enhanced Station Improvement plans, dozens of stations could benefit from improvements ranging from new waiting facilities, park and ride schemes, better access, security and customer information on platforms.
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said, “Building a modern, safe and sustainable transport system for Wales is essential for the economic regeneration of the region as well as for its environmental benefits.
“This programme will not only encourage greater use of rail services - helping reduce road congestion in and around towns and cities - it will also improve access for everyone, including rural communities, people with disabilities and those arriving at stations by foot or on bike.
“Upgrading our major transport hubs as well as smaller stations across the region will increase inward investment, employment opportunities and visitors who will arrive at their destinations through attractive gateways.
Developed in partnership with Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales, the aim of this wide ranging programme is to increase use of rail services to access jobs, shops and recreation for a wide range of customers including those with disabilities.
The £21m announced today, which comes from the Convergence European Regional Development Fund, is to support previously announced funding from the Welsh Assembly Government, Network Rail, Arriva Trains Wales, and the Department of Transport.
Chris Rayner, route director, Network Rail said, ”Britain relies on rail. A robust railway is very often the heartbeat for a growing economy and it needs to be supported by well-equipped stations across the network. Good stations can often be catalysts for rail demand and future investments in the regeneration of towns and cities. We know modern stations are important to passengers in Wales and we want to achieve even more successes for them. We need businesses and local government to continue to voice their support for rail and its part in the prosperous economy.”
Commenting on the investment, Ian Bullock, Customer Services Director for Arriva Trains Wales said “These plans will deliver additional schemes and bring forward the delivery of station improvements, bringing more of our stations in Wales up to a higher standard thus better meeting the expectations of our passengers who tell us how important stations are to their journey experience on rail.
Mr Jones, who is also the Minister for the Economy and Transport, added: “EU funding provides extra resources to back up our commitment set out in our Economic Renewal Programme to drive forward a 21st century integrated transport network for Wales.”
All works are due for completion by 2014 and build on the current NSIP programme which is aimed at delivering improvements to increase passenger perception of security, to improve access and egress, to enhance the overall presentation of the station and to improve information provision and other facilities.
Notes to Editors:
The National Station Improvement Programme (NSIP) was launched in 2007 by the Department of Transport (DfT). The primary objective of NSIP is to bring about a noticeable and lasting improvement in the environment at stations for the benefit of passengers across England and Wales.
NSIP is managed by Network Rail and delivered regionally. The Wales and Borders region is managed by a devolved programme board consisting of Network Rail, Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) and the Welsh Assembly Government; the Local Development Group.
The Welsh Assembly Government has developed, in partnership with the Network Rail and ATW, the Wales Station Improvement Programme. The programme will deliver additional enhancements to stations across the Convergence area in Wales, providing a more strategic programme that builds upon NSIP.
NSIP+ will deliver a significant range of station improvements that are fully consistent with the strategic aims set out in the Wales Transport Strategy and the National and Regional Transport Plans. The programme will;
- Make improvements to the overall customer environment;
- Make improvements to personal security and the perception of security;
- Make improvements to station access and egress;
- Make improvements to customer information provisions;
- Make improvements to customer facilities, including waiting facilities;
- Ensure stations are DDA compliant or facilitate wheelchair access to trains;
- Compliment investment in the Strategic Regeneration Areas;
- Improve the park & ride provision;
- Make improvements to the interchange with other modes (including walking and cycling);
- Achieve excellence in design standard;
- Ensure harmony with the built environment;
- Embed sustainable development as a design solution
Funding will be awarded to specific projects that meet the defined activities, outputs and results of the programme. Projects will have to demonstrate compliance with the specific NSIP+ eligibility criteria.
Larger schemes in the programme will provide accessibility and safety and security improvements, and modernised facilities, at hub stations across the regions where schemes are being developed in partnership between the rail industry and the transport consortia as potential bids for the grant programme.
Some of the smaller schemes include:
- a humps programme for all stations on rural routes in Wales to become wheelchair accessible, with parallel station access improvements where necessary. This will cover every station with a stepping height issue on Anglesey, Conwy Valley Line, the Cambrian Coast railway and west Wales.
- upgraded passenger facilities whereby every ATW station in Wales will have electronic Customer Information Systems and help-points;
- a substantial shelter replacement programme.
A flagship scheme which is already progressing is the modernisation of Swansea High Street station. Following the public exhibition in February ATW will be appointing the contractors for the scheme. We will be making an announcement regarding progress Swansea station in the coming weeks.