WILL THERE BE A NEW TRAIN STATION?
WHAT are the prospects for a new railway station at Llanilid?
The Welsh Government’s transport body, Transport for Wales, in environmental impact assessments for future Metro developments, has not identified a station there as a next phase project.
Discussions would need to involve the Metro, electrification of the Valley Lines and the running of the next 15-year Wales and Borders rail franchise, but new park and ride station projects could focus on other locations along the line into Cardiff at places such as Brackla or Miskin.
The challenge is not necessarily the cost but – as a station that would also have to see trains to London passing through – getting Network Rail to give priority status for a new station so close to existing ones at Pencoed and Llanharan.
Transport expert Prof Stuart Cole said: “In principle a new station at Llanilid is a good idea, providing there is a park and ride facility for 1,000 to 2,000 vehicles that takes traffic off the M4 from a new junction, where the existing ones at Bridgend and Llanharan are far enough apart to justify one at Llanilid.”
Prof Cole said the line from Pencoed to Cardiff could support one additional station. But the prospect of a station at Llanilid being a stop for South Wales to London mainline services, as it stands, seems out of the question.