PLAN FOR NEW CITY STATIONS
WELSH GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS PROPOSAL FOR THREE NEW CARDIFF RAILWAY STATIONS
THREE new railway stations could be built in Cardiff.
The feasibility of the proposed new sites will now be examined, Economy Secretary Ken Skates told AMs.
The plan is part of proposals for 12 new stations across Wales.
In a letter to AMs Mr Skates distributed “the prioritised list of stations which will be taken forward for further development”.
Those locations have been whittled down from an initial shortlist of 46 and will now be subject to more detail scrutiny.
So far the 12 sites have passed the first stage of a three-step approach to assessing how costly they would be and the timetable for possibly building them.
“The more costly work on producing detailed cost estimates for a new station and timetable modelling is only carried out on the highest priorities,” he wrote.
“The stage two assessment will look in more detail at the strength of the financial and economic case for a new railway station, including advice from Network Rail on deliverability.”
Bow Street, Llangefni and St Clears all previously had stations but they were closed in the 1960s.
Transport expert Stuart Cole, who is emeritus professor of transport at the Wales Transport Research Centre, said: “Aiming to reduce the amount of traffic on the roads is a big part of this.
“The new stations will be hugely beneficial to people in North Wales, as well as to people in places like Aberystwyth.
“The plans have been discussed for a long time.
“It’s a good shortlist and a lot of people will benefit from the proposal.
“It will help provide people with easier access to work and encourage more people to use public transport instead of using their cars, which is a big factor in this.”
He said the introduction of new stations was unlikely to provide immediate relief for passengers on services where overcrowding has been an issue.
“The number of people who use trains increased last year and it will probably increase again,” he said.
“What’s essential is that the trains are frequent and can cater for a good capacity so people have the chance of getting a seat.
“Of course, as time goes on, people will have to stand. It’s inevitable that a service will become more popular as time goes on.
“But these are things that need to be discussed.”
After the letter was published councillors in some of the areas which could see new stations built gave cautious backing to the plans.
Cardiff councillor Susan Goddard, who represents the Ely ward, said: “I haven’t seen any plans or heard anything about the project but it’s good to hear news that a station could be reopening – we used to have one near Ely Mill.
“A new station could reduce the amount of traffic going into Canton and the city. It could encourage people to use their cars less and spend less money on expensive parking.”
Pontprennau and Old St Mellons Councillor Dianne Rees said: “We would be very pleased to have a new railway station in St Mellons – it would be a huge benefit to people living on this side of the city.
“I would like to see the plans before I completely support it but at the moment a lot of people rely on bus services in the area and I don’t think this is completely adequate.”
Swansea councillor Mike White, who represents Landore, said: “I would imagine people would welcome a new station as it would encourage people to use public transport more and may also stop people from parking in residential areas.
“It will also be good for football fans commuting from places like Bridgend and Port Talbot when they travel to the stadium. It would help to control the traffic.”