£194m announced to improve every railway station in Wales

Transport for Wales (TfW) has announced details of its £194 million investment to improve all 247 railway stations in Wales and the Borders.

The Station Improvement Vision, developed in partnership with Wales and Borders railway operator KeolisAmey, details the improvements customers and communities can expect to see at their local stations over the  coming years.

The ambitious programme will deliver free WiFi, improved shelters, CCTV, enhanced cycle storage provision and more extensive passenger information at every station.

It also highlights plans for new retail facilities, creating opportunities for local businesses, as well as initiatives to develop community spaces within stations.

KeolisAmey took over as operator of rail services for Wales and Borders in 2018, replacing Arriva Trains Wales, which had operated the franchise since 2003. It is working with Transport for Wales to transform existing rail infrastructure, electrify key lines and introduce new trains to enhance the passenger experience.

As part of TfW and KeolisAmey’s commitment to support the Welsh Government in creating a more sustainable Wales, reducing carbon emissions generated through transport is central to the plans. A minimum of 1,500 additional car parking spaces will be created across the network, helping to increase the accessibility of the country’s public transport network.

The planned improvements also include expanding the Secure Station Accreditation programme, a UK accreditation in conjunction with the British Transport Police, which will make stations safer and more welcoming for passengers, and the installation of new footbridges, lifts and ramps, part-funded by the Department for Transport.

As part of its plans to reinvest into the communities it serves, TfW has held events and workshops aimed at small and medium enterprises in Wales, providing opportunities for them to bid for work linked to the Station Improvement Vision.

KeolisAmey is a joint venture between French transport company Keolis and infrastructure asset management specialists Amey. It won the contract to operate the Wales and Borders rail service and the South Wales Metro in May 2018. In addition to its work in Wales, KeolisAmey currently operates the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in London, as well as Greater Manchester’s Metrolink, one of the largest tram networks in the UK.