During a visit to the Vale of Glamorgan today Monday, 19 February, the Transport Secretary Mark Harper will announce the UK government’s support for improved rail links in the region.
The Transport Secretary will be joined by local people including the Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns to announce that the UK government has committed to fund the development of a business case for investigation of options for a new station at St Athan.
A new station at St Athan on the Vale of Glamorgan Line would restore the area’s services that were withdrawn 60 years ago.
It will provide better access to the thousands of people in the region’s growing number of homes, as well as jobs and business opportunities.
The Department for Transport has pledged to work with both the local authority and Transport for Wales to fund and develop a business case for the new station, including assessing forecast passenger demand and options for train services.
The station would provide an additional transport option for hundreds of staff at the nearby Aston Martin manufacturing and development facility and attract more businesses to invest in the Cardiff Airport-St Athan Enterprise Zones.
It would also support Cardiff Capital Region’s plans to regenerate the decommissioned Aberthaw Power Station as a green energy park. It is expected to provide the impetus to create specialist jobs in the aerospace, defence, automotive, manufacturing and engineering sectors and to drive the region’s economic growth.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “The return of services to St Athan for the first time in 60 years would be key to unlocking the area’s huge potential for growth, encouraging more businesses to invest in the area and opening up job opportunities for thousands of people.
“That’s why the UK government is unlocking funding to explore options for a new station, part of our plan to continue investing in local transport and help grow the economy.”
Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said: “The UK government has invested millions directly in Wales’ transport infrastructure, better connecting communities and creating greater opportunity for people across the country. This potential improvement to rail links in the Vale of Glamorgan is fantastic news.”
Responses
People complaining don’t live in St Athans bus service to Barry and Cardiff like a dog stopping at every tree takes ages and only hourly service Present station in llantwit away in the distance from St Athan camp no buses go through the camp Although trains hourly a station would be nearer to get to making life for young and old more enjoyable and appointments easier to attend on time.
I love that analogy! That’s exactly right and the reason why I can’t travel on buses! 🤢
Another glorious waste of money. Schools may be falling down the NHS in Wales failing yet a station. In St Athan can be funded by Westmiinster. The enterprise zone Cardif StAthan “airport” will be doomed to failure..
Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff. Sooner the assembly is dismantled and lifted up the better.
Absolutely link the M4.
Most people drive past on the M4 to get to Bristol.
Saying that, the way the Assembly is mismanaging the airport it’ll be gone soon!
Once again….. South Wales gets funding. Everything goes down south. Mid and North Wales fighting for scraps. Then again , they have to keep the Southern sheep voting for Welsh Labour.
This a Conservative UK Government announcement involving Conservative politicians – why are they ‘ensuring south Wales votes for Labour’?
I think a station at Wick would make sense to
Monkey chatter It should have happened 30 years ago. Along with stations at east and west Cardiff. To quote Drakeford on upgrading the A470 “roads! No we dont need roads in Wales!” Same applies to trains no doubt.
Now reconnect the North to the South by rail
What another master stroke by Drakeford’s Senedd. Convert our rail system to electric; Couple this with converting our heating to electric; then we are being forced to use EVs. Where is all this EXPENSIVE electricity coming from?
Extend the line from Rhoose into the airport to make the airport more attractive.
And link M4 at same time should have been done years ago