St Fagans and Rumney train stations – why the delay?

Cardiff Council's own website has a Local Transport Plan published in August 2000 which called for feasibility studies for train stations in St Fagans and Rumney, so this is not a new suggestion. However, to date the council has no firm plans for new stations in these areas.

St Fagans would benefit from a train station to allow visitors to travel to the museum without having to use cars, but also it would benefit local residents and museum staff.

The people of Rumney would benefit from a train station which would allow them to travel to the city centre more quickly and reduce the number of car journeys being made along busy roads such as the A48 and Newport Road. It could also improve public transport to the large further education college Coleg Glan Hafren.

Matthew Townsend, Green Party candidate for Cardiff South and Penarth in the coming general election said:

"Cardiff is very fortunate to have several railway lines running through it. Trains are one of the most sustainable forms of transport and as the city is growing we need to ensure our railways are improved with more stations, better trains and more frequent services."

"Improving train services in Cardiff will help employment, the local economy and reduce the amount of pollution. Cardiff Council needs to get moving on this urgently and encourage other stakeholders in the city's public transport to stop delaying."

Jake Griffiths, Green candidate for Cardiff West said:

"This is a station that can be re-opened relatively easily and could form part of the Maesteg service. If the Council and the Assembly Government are serious about the sustainable transport status for Cardiff some of the allocated money should go towards new stations. A rebuilt station would be able to serve St Fagans Museum which is one of Wales' top tourist attraction."

The Green Party comments follow calls for the renovation of St Fagans station, made by AM and former First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan.

Sources

Local Transport Plan published in August 2000

http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2870%2C4048%2C4188%2C4241&parent_directory_id=2865&id=1533

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/03/09/calls-for-disused-st-fagans-train-station-to-be-reopened-91466-25990686/

Contact details:

Matt Townsend 07989 516958
matt@matttownsend.co.uk

Sam Coates 075 3157 0056
admin@cardiffgreenparty.org.uk