Speaking in yeterday afternoon’s Assembly debate on Rail infrastructure in Wales, William Graham highlighted the need to improve facilities for disabled passengers in Wales:
‘Never again can we have a repeat of the situation when a new platform is opened at a major rail hub without wheelchair access, as happened when platform 4 was opened at Newport Rail Station in 2007. No railway station in South Wales East has both disabled access to all platforms and accessible lavatory facilities.’
The Conservative AM also spoke of the need for the Assembly Government to clarify the time scale for the opening of the rail line between Ebbw Vale Parkway and Newport:
‘The first Assembly Government administration announced the Newport – Ebbw Vale rail link as an integral part of the Corus steelworks regeneration programme in 2001. Successive Governments’ delays in opening the rail passenger service has been a major disappointment for people in South Wales East and impeded the region’s economic development. One only has to look at the success of the rail link between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff to see the strength of demand for new routes. The Minister for Transport must examine the case for new routes such as providing an additional service from Newport to Abergavenny with a re-opened station at Caerleon.’
- Chepstow Station has access to the Newport bound platform via steeped footbridge.
- Abergavenny Station has access to Newport bound platform via footbridge with 45 steps or the indignity of a barrow crossing during ticket office hours.
- Pontypool & New Inn Station has access to both platforms via flight of 24 steps from subway.
- Caerphilly Station has access to Rhymney bound platform via either a footbridge or a long ramp steeper than 1:12.
- At Caldicot Station both platforms are only accessible by a ramp steeper than 1:12.
- Only 2 of the 30 stations in South Wales East have lavatory facilities accessible to disabled people.
