Major milestone reached in improving accessibility at Cwmbran station

The main span for the new accessible footbridge at Cwmbran station in South Wales has been successfully installed by Network Rail.

Work is continuing on the brickwork and cladding of the lift shafts, while the next phase of the project starts this week when lifts will be installed on both platforms.

Network Rail Wales and Western principal portfolio manager Dan Parkes said: “We’ve been busy at Cwmbran over the past few months and huge progress has been made here by our contractor, Centregreat.

“We had a 250-tonne crane on site, which lifted in four sections of the bridge, and we’ve now moved on to the next stage of the project, which is the cladding and brickwork of the lift shafts.

“The lift installation is scheduled to start next week as we head toward an autumn opening.

“The accessibility improvements we are making at Cwmbran mean all passengers – including those with limited mobility, those carrying heavy luggage or those with pushchairs – will have a step-free and accessible route between platforms 1 and 2.”

Cwmbran is one of six stations on the Wales and Borders route becoming step-free and more accessible, with the improvements being funded by the Department for Transport as part of the UK Government’s Access for All programme. 

Work on accessible footbridges continues at neighbouring Abergavenny, as well as at Newtown, Flint and Llanelli, while Ludlow station will see a lift added to its existing footbridge.