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Plans have been unveiled for a multi-million pound investment to revamp Port Talbot railway station.

Neath Port Talbot Council in partnership with Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail will submit a bid to the Welsh Assembly Government^s Wales Station Improvement programme for European funding to build a new state of the art station building fit for the 21st century.

Plans include a new enclosed footbridge with lifts providing step free access to the platform. There will be a new ticket office and waiting areas as well as a caf^ and retail area, new toilets and improvements to customer information and CCTV. The development includes a 200 space car park with a park and ride for commuters along with improved facilities for cyclists, bus passengers and taxis.

The project will be jointly managed by Neath Port Talbot Council, Arriva Trains Wales, Network Rail and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Residents and passengers can see the design proposals at a public exhibition being held in the waiting room of the railway station in the morning, in the Aberavon Shopping Centre in the afternoon and in the civic centre in Port Talbot for a couple of weeks.

Visitors to the exhibition will be encouraged to have their say on the designs, complete a questionnaire with their views and leave comments which will then be fed back into the proposals.

The plans are also on the Council^s website where people can leave their comments online.

In line with Welsh Assembly Government guidelines, the proposals will take account of equality principles, so the Council is seeking views from various groups including disabled, Welsh Language, lone parents and those not in work to ensure the transport needs of all are addressed.

Work on the station is expected to start in spring 2012 and will take around 18 months to complete.

Council Leader, Ali Thomas, said, ^This exciting project will tie in with the ongoing regeneration plans for Port Talbot. The proposals will be a major boost to the town centre and totally revamp the lower end of Station Road, which is much needed. It will complement the Harbour Way link road and help to draw in investment to open up the derelict dockland for office and business development. Improvements at Port Talbot Parkway are long overdue, particularly in respect of disabled rail users. Now I am pleased to see that passengers and visitors will benefit from a modern and integrated railway system that reflects the heritage and aspirations of the town.^

Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones said, ^When I launched the Wales Station Enhancement programme last year I invited bids, such as this one from Neath Port Talbot, with the aim of transforming passengers^ travel experience and more importantly, opening up new opportunities for the areas involved. I am pleased to hear that the bid is progressing well and I am sure the design proposals will attract a lot of interest from the local community. Sustained investment in rail, as well as improvements to our infrastructure like the Harbour Way link, will be vital in helping unleash the economic potential of South Wales and the Valleys.^

Ian Bullock, Customer Services Director Arriva Trains Wales said: ^Arriva Trains Wales are a proud participant in the unveiling of the Port Talbot development plans. The event will actively seek to engage with all people, irrespective of disability, gender and race and will help ensure the needs of all people are taken into account in the redevelopment which we hope will encourage more people to travel by train^.

Mark Langman, Route Director for Network Rail said: ^This proposal is driven by a vision to transform the railway in Wales and, if delivered, will mark a huge improvement for Port Talbot. Support from the people of the town is vital to make this possible and we welcome the public in having their say today. The proposed station improvements, combining the recent investment to modernise the signalling infrastructure, will cater to a growing passenger demand and encourage sustainable travel, whilst improving the environment and socio-economics of the town.^

Council's confident on Port Talbot station revamp

A major announcement on the future of Port Talbot's tired old railway station is believed to be imminent.

Neath Port Talbot Council has been waiting since last December to find out if a multi-million redevelopment of the town's Parkway station has met with Welsh Government approval.

Questions have now been asked by Shadow Transport Minister Byron Davies, who said he was disappointed with the lack of progress.

However, Neath Port Talbot said it was expecting a decision soon and was extremely hopeful of a positive outcome.

Mr Davies, Conservative regional AM for South Wales West, said he had asked Local Government and Communities Minister Carl Sergeant what the status of the scheme was and when the upgrade would start.

In response, Mr Sergeant told him he would be announcing the stations to benefit from the Stations Improvement Grant strategy and confirmed Port Talbot was one of those being considered.

Mr Davies said: "I wrote to the minister in July last year urging him to approve plans to revamp Port Talbot station. So to hear 15 months later that the application is still under consideration is disappointing to say the least. It's time for action.

"Port Talbot Parkway was last revamped in the 1960s and is looking very tired and outdated. If we are to encourage more people to use public transport and leave their cars at home, we must provide modern facilities."

The Port Talbot Parkway refurbishment is seen as a key part of the town's wider regeneration, along with the ^107 million new Harbour Way dual carriageway.

Neath Port Talbot Council has high hopes for the redevelopment of the docks area, for lower Station Road and for the town centre generally.

It worked in partnership with Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail on a bid to the Welsh Government's Wales Station Improvement programme for European funding, which was submitted last December.

In response to Mr Davies's comments, council chief executive Steve Phillips said: "We have been in discussions with the Welsh Government and Aberavon AM David Rees. We are awaiting a decision on Port Talbot Parkway. But we are extremely hopeful it will be positive for Port Talbot, and will boost our regeneration plans for Harbour Way and the town centre."

^9.5m cash injection for Port Talbot's Parkway railway station

Port Talbot's Parkway railway station is to get a ^9.5million makeover thanks to a Welsh Government grant, an AM has said.

Community leaders have welcomed the announcement, which is part of a larger ^40million Wales Station Improvement Programme introduced by Transport Minister Carl Sargeant today.

Other stations to benefit from the programme include Pontypridd, Rhyl, Ystrad Mynach and Aberystwyth.

Mr Sargeant said: "Developing a truly sustainable transport network in Wales is vital if we are to further encourage the public to use rail more frequently. By developing train stations that are cleaner, more accessible and safer we will encourage more people to consider taking the train over the car."

The move was welcomed by Aberavon AM David Rees, and the town's MP, Dr Hywel Francis, who said the cost was ^9.5million.

Mr Rees said: "This investment, over 30 per cent higher than the original figure of ^7.1 million, will ensure that the station can meet 21st Century standards. It is the culmination of many years of hard work and a strong campaign which was led by Dr Hywel Francis, and my predecessor, Dr Brian Gibbons, who passed the baton onto me when I was elected.

"For the last year I have been lobbying the Welsh Government for a modern railway station with facilities for all groups and I'm delighted that the people of Port Talbot will finally have a station that they can enjoy and be proud of.

"The upgraded station will be easily accessible, family and disabled friendly and will also provide a modern and attractive facility for both residents and visitors. I'm glad that our town will now have the station it deserves. It is an important gateway to our town and all it offers."

Dr Francis added: "This is the culmination of a broad campaign involving disability and community groups, the Labour party and, very importantly, Neath Port Talbot Council. I am delighted that the people of Port Talbot and the whole of South West Wales will now benefit."