New lifts and footbridge open at railway station

Work on new lifts and a footbridge at Newtown Railway Station have been completed, significantly improving accessibility.

For the first time, both platforms are now fully accessible to all passengers. Network Rail and contractor AmcoGiffen have been on site since December 2023, transforming the station's accessibility infrastructure.

Further enhancements will continue in the coming weeks, including the replacement of station furnishings. The newly installed lifts will also undergo monitoring and review to ensure they function properly for all users.

Theo Smith, senior portfolio manager for Network Rail, expressed gratitude to the public: "I'd like to thank members of the public for their patience while we carried out this important piece of work. We're committed to making the railway the preferred choice of sustainable travel, and having stations that are accessible for all rail users is critical to achieving this."

Network Rail is making similar progress at other stations, as Smith explained: "We are continuing to work hard at Abergavenny, Flint and Llanelli stations to also make them step-free, the new facilities will be open to the public soon."

Newtown is one of six stations on the Wales and Borders route benefiting from these accessibility upgrades. The improvements have been funded by the Department for Transport as part of the UK Government's Access for All programme, which was launched in 2006 to address challenges faced by passengers with disability or mobility issues.

Work on new accessible footbridges continues at Abergavenny, Flint and Llanelli stations, following recent successful completions at Ludlow and Cwmbran stations.