Hain Calls For Big Improvements to Neath Railway Station

Disabled access and general improvements are needed to make Neath railway station more welcoming and becoming for a town like Neath says the local MP Peter Hain. He has criticised the condition of the station describing it as a ‘terrible first impression for visitors to the town.’

In a letter to Arriva Trains Wales who are responsible for the station Mr Hain said, “Neath is a proud town with a welcoming, cosy shopping centre which includes a traditional old covered market. It deserves and needs a station worthy of the town and I very much hope you will ensure the necessary work to provide Neath with a station the town can be proud of will be undertaken promptly.

“The cream and yellow painting has recently given the station footbridge a much needed uplift but a great deal more work is necessary.

“Despite having a large footfall deriving from its position on the mainline to Paddington, the station is bleak, alienating and terrible for disabled access. There is a urine smelling lift from the car park at the back to the car park on the front and thence to the town centre. But there is no platform to platform or exit lift. Disabled people and everyone with a heavy case has to hobble over a footway across the rail line itself, in between oncoming trains.

“I understand that Network Rail has funds available for exactly this sort of station upgrade.”