Plans to revamp Swansea railway station into a bright, accessible, clean and secure station fit for the 21st century have now been unveiled.
An exhibition is on show at the city’s High Street station until Friday this week (February 12) that includes images of how the station will look upon the completion of the upgrade as well as information on what new features are being introduced.
More than 1.6million passengers who travel through the Swansea station every year are set to benefit from a much better rail travel experience because of the revamp.
A larger concourse area with better and more fully accessible passenger facilities is being introduced under the scheme as well as new waiting shelters, toilets, digital information boards, shops and CCTV cameras,
The station will also become more aesthetically pleasing thanks to a combination of refurbished canopies and new contemporary fittings that will blend in with existing architecture.
A side entrance from the taxi rank, additional bicycle racks, renovated toilets and a centralised customer information desk will also be among the new features.
A glazed wall is being installed between the station’s concourse and platform areas to allow more natural light into the building.
Swansea railway station is one of the key gateways into the city and the upgrade scheme will sit alongside ongoing works to refurbish the city’s Quadrant Bus Station.
Contracts to carry out the railway station revamp are currently being tendered for and work on site is expected to start towards the end of the spring.
The scheme, which is part of the Department for Transport’s National Station Improvement Programme, is jointly led by Arriva Trains Wales, Network Rail and the Welsh Assembly Government.
It also has firm support from Swansea Council, which sees the planned improvements to the station as a further boost to the city’s regeneration plans.
Ian Bullock, Customer Services Director at Arriva Trains Wales, said: “The improvement work has been designed specifically to improve access and offer a wider range of services.
“The works will make the Swansea station fit for the 21st century and we hope it will encourage more people to try the train.”
Chris Rayner, Route Director for Network Rail, said: “Stations are the shop-front of railways and they have been ignored for too long. Over the next five years, stations are among Network Rail’s top priorities and, together with our partners, we will be ploughing around £85m into improving stations in Wales by 2014.
“Swansea is among the many stations to benefit from this wider investment. The transformed station will serve as a catalyst for further growth in rail usage in Swansea while helping to provide a much better environment for the city.
“We’ve listened to passengers and this plan will respond to their needs by improving their travel experience so that their rail journey is always comfortable, convenient and safe.”
Ieuan Wyn Jones, The Welsh Assembly Government’s Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport, said: “I’m extremely pleased to be part of this partnership project which meets yet another of our commitments in our National Transport Plan. I’m sure I speak for all our partners- Network Rail, Arriva Trains Wales and Swansea Council-when I say that we’re thoroughly looking forward to seeing the much-needed work begin.
“This is certainly an exciting time for Swansea. I’m sure passengers will be very proud of their new brighter and safer station for years to come.”
Councillor Chris Holley, Swansea Council Leader, said: “The upgrade of Swansea railway station is terrific news. The station serves as one of the key gateways into the city and it gives many people a first impression of Swansea. This work is vital in ensuring those impressions are positive.
“It’s hugely important that Swansea has a public transport network in place that’s fit for the 21st Century and this upgrade will complement ongoing works to refurbish the Quadrant Bus Station, the imminent return of the Swansea to Cork ferry and the introduction of a fast cat service between Swansea and Ilfracombe.
“These are very encouraging times for the High Street area of Swansea and will boost its regeneration. This scheme will sit alongside projects such as the Urban Village plans for part of High Street led by The Coastal Housing Group to create an area the people of Swansea can be proud of.”
The improvement work at Swansea railway station will be carried out in two key phases to bring incremental benefits to passengers. Passengers will benefit from an improved concourse area by 2011 before further work on the platform area begins in the second phase.
The improvement work will be carried out with minimal disruption to passengers and extra steps will be taken to keep the station open at all times.
