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Getting the hump in Aberdovey05/12/2009

At Aberdovey Railway Station: Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, Jerry Swift (Head of Corporate Responsibility, Network Rail), Cllr. Trevor Roberts (Gwynedd Council) and Cllr. Dewi Owen (Gwynedd Councillor for Aberdovey).




Ieuan Wyn Jones AM and Jerry Swift on the new ramp - the new shelter can be seen in the background.




Ieuan Wyn Jones AM and Gerwyn Jones (Cambrian Railways Partnership) with the new Travel Information Posters.

For once getting the 'hump' has been a good thing for local residents and visitors to Aberdovey!

A new easier access ramp, or hump, has been launched by Deputy First Minister, Minster for the Economy and Transport Ieuan Wyn Jones AM that will significantly reduce the stepping distance between trains and the platform at Aberdovey Railway Station.

Speaking at the launch Mr Jones said "The One Wales agreement made a clear commitment to improve the quality of stations and platforms across Wales - for all our citizens to have access to the rail network - including full wheelchair access as pledged by our Easy Access Scheme.

I am delighted that this afternoon we can see for ourselves an imaginative and cost effective solution - one that will in time help thousands more people to take the train."

Gwynedd Councillor Trevor Roberts, Chairman of the Cambrian Coast Line Liaison Committee who along with a number of local individuals and groups has actively campaigned on the issue of stepping heights at Aberdovey said, "This will be of great benefit to a wide range of existing and potential train passengers.

"Being that it is the first of its kind in Wales it's not only about raising the platform but also about positively raising the profile of Aberdovey and the railway in general.

It's very positive as well to hear that plans are also in place to address similar problems at other stations on the Cambrian Coast Line and elsewhere in Wales."

Jerry Swift, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Network Rail, explained: "At the moment passengers with small children and pushchairs, the elderly or those with heavy luggage can find getting on and off trains difficult at Aberdovey.

Now we have found a cost effective solution.

Low platforms are a typical problem for rural stations, such as Aberdovey.

"The ramp provides easier access and this in turn means more people can use the trains. The increase in passenger numbers can be the catalyst for further investment in the local railway, enhancing it even more to meet the increased demand."

Ian Bullock, Customer Services Director at Arriva Trains Wales said: "We are delighted that the Welsh Assembly Government has supported this scheme to enable access for more passengers at Aberdovey Station and pending funding confirmation, at many more rural stations across the Arriva Trains Wales network."

The initiative at Aberdovey is the latest in an on-going programme of improvements to infrastructure and services on the Cambrian railway network that have been delivered in partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government, Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales.

Aberdovey Railway Station has also recently benefited from a new shelter and a new travel information poster that provides localised information for onward travel from the station.

Other stations on the Cambrian that have recently had new shelters include Tywyn and Welshpool and there are more earmarked.

Twelve other stations on the Cambrian will also be provided with similar travel information posters as part of an initiative delivered by the Cambrian Railways Partnership.