Pontypool and New Inn station improvements

[Tomos y Tanc]

Planning permission has been granted for improvements to Pontypool and New Inn station on the Marches line. Basically it involves the creation of a new 150 space car park to the west of the station linked to the island platform by a new footbridge/lifts. The existing eastern car park and subway are to be retained.

South Wales Argus report

PLANS to improve Pontypool and New Inn railway station with a new footbridge and a park and ride scheme - to turn it into a public transport hub for north Torfaen - have been given the green light.

The final hurdle was cleared when councillors on Torfaen county borough council's planning committee welcomed the proposal and voted unanimously to approve them.

The scheme proposes a new car park which will be reached from newly-built slip roads off the A4042.
Under the plans, the car park would provide 133 car parking spaces, 11 electric vehicle charging spaces, 11 accessible parking spaces, five motorcycle parking spaces, five drop-off spaces and a cycle shelter.

While the station has seen increased usage in recent years, it's still the case that many of the services heading to or from Manchester or Holyhead don't stop at Pontypool. While there's nothing particularly wrong with the new plans I would have thought a more regular pattern of services would be needed for the station to become the kind of "commuting hub" that the local council seems to envisage.

 

[Envoy]

Great news to see this work finally getting underway. It is not easy to reach the present car park from the A4042. Having direct access from this highway to a new car park will attract more commuters from this area to change to rail travel. Note that the for the town of Usk, this will be the nearest rail station. Let us hope that when the new access & car park opens, that the people of Usk, are made aware of the fact as at present, if commuting to Cardiff, they would use the A449 and the M4 around Newport.

Moderator note: for discussion of proposals for changes to service provision on this route, please see the following thread:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/idea-for-new-stopping-service-to-abergavenny-and-speeding-up-of-longer-distance-trains.205036/