The stations are designed to cease overcrowding on the M4
5 new railway stations, which it’s hoped will ease congestion on the M4, had been among the many issues the UK Authorities mentioned will fund as a part of a £445m funding rail programme in Wales.
The stations, between Cardiff and the Severn Tunnel, had been first prompt as a part of a package deal proposed by Lord Burns, who was tasked with arising with options to the now-abandoned M4 aid highway.
The South East Wales Transport Fee made 58 suggestions to provide make it simpler for individuals to journey with out their vehicles, and in flip ease automotive use on the M4 which included 5 new stations colloquially known as the Burns stations. For our free every day briefing on the most important points dealing with the nation, signal as much as the Wales Issues e-newsletter right here
In her assertion Rachel Reeves dedicated £300m to construct the Burns stations, but additionally different enhancements.
We requested each Welsh Authorities and Transport for Wales for any updates given the spending evaluation rail announcement. There are additionally excellent questions from the Treasury in regards to the figures we have been given and precisely what will probably be spent on what.
By way of the Burns stations, practice traces and any timeline for works to start, here’s what we all know to this point:
The stations
At present there are solely three stations between Cardiff and the Severn Tunnel, however the proposal is for brand spanking new stations to be constructed at Cardiff East (Newport Street), Newport West, Somerton, Llanwern, in addition to Magor and Undy.
These had been recognized by Lord Burns as being locations the place there may be demand primarily based on the place individuals stay, go to and work.
The newest report taking a look at modifications to rail in south Wales was printed on the finish of 2024, and mentioned they might require 5 years of building and price a complete of £385m.
Every station intimately
The designs of every are preliminary, and Transport for Wales (TfW) say they might but change.
Cardiff East
This, previously referred to as Newport Street, would have a footbridge and devoted drop-off and pick-up space. The principle entry can be from Rover Approach, it might additionally connect with Beresford Street and Horwood Shut. There can be no devoted automotive park.
Newport West
There can be 250 automotive parking areas at this station which might be accessed by the A48 Southern Distributor Street and buses would use Lighthouse Street. It might function a station constructing, retail and industrial areas.
The station would hyperlink to Maesglas and Duffryn.
Somerton
Positioned between Somerton, Beechwood and elements of Lliswerry and Alway, this station would have as much as 50 areas – though the automotive park design might change. There would even be a devoted drop off and choose up space.
Buses would use Cromwell Street to hook up with the station.
Llanwern
This would come with 260 surfaced automotive parking areas with use of as much as 1,000 for occasion days. Monk’s Ditch Drive would give automotive and bus entry to the principle automotive park. There will probably be some brief keep bays, and cycle storage.
There can be a step-free entry footbridge.
Magor and Undy
This station would have connections to the bus stations on Important Street, and the present subway from West Finish would stay however will not be a part of the principle entry to the station. Entry to the pick-up and drop-off spots will probably be by way of the B4245 Important Street.
Which trains will cease?
The brand new stations can be constructed on aid traces which might be upgraded by Community Rail to permit new passenger providers to run on it. Aid tracks subsequent to the present most important line be improved to hold quicker passenger providers, opening up the power for passenger trains to make use of the service with out have to construct a brand new observe.
The brand new stations would hyperlink with native bus providers, and have good strolling, biking and wheeling entry.
The brand new passenger service might use trains which have a low flooring for simply accessible stage boarding. The present platform design is for 170m lengthy platforms, permitting as much as eight automotive trains to cease. Nonetheless, the preliminary providers can be trains with three or 4 vehicles which permit stage boarding between the practice and platform.
What number of extra trains will there be?
The brand new stations, in addition to new trains, would “considerably improve” practice frequency and capability at peak time. Additional stops will probably be added to the Cheltenham route.
Not less than two trains an hour would serve the brand new stations which might as much as three or 4, that is in addition to the long-distance GWR Cardiff to Bristol providers.
The brand new providers would take “simply over an hour” when you journey the total route. “The brand new providers are stopping trains, so the journeys take barely longer than present Cardiff-Bristol trains. It is simply over an hour when you journey the total route. Nonetheless For those who at the moment journey right into a metropolis centre to catch a practice and in future will be capable to catch a practice extra domestically you must nonetheless have a faster door-to-door journey.”
Current providers would not be impacted and you may nonetheless catch the long-distance trains if travelling from Cardiff to Bristol.
What’s going to it price and the way lengthy will it take?
A 13-week public session was carried out final 12 months and suggestions is getting used to develop the design of the stations by 2026.
The newest figures present that the entire price of the 5 new Burns stations is £335m, with £50m wanted for the aid line upgrades.
The funding introduced by the UK Authorities within the spending evaluation on June 11 was £300m however included different works round Wales.
We had requested the Welsh secretary what the cash was for, however we had been referred to the Treasury, which is taking a look at our inquiries to reply precisely what the plan for that £300m is.
The newest paperwork obtainable broke down the price of setting up the 5 Burns stations as being £28m wanted in 2025, £39m in 2026, £79m in 2027, £74m in 2029 and £34m in 2030.
The doc explains that’s primarily based on 2020 figures “however displays a better specification infrastructure possibility” than had been costed.
TfW does add a disclaimer in its report that “though the precise funding requirement will probably be confirmed in full enterprise circumstances, the supply finances beneath units out the anticipated supply pipeline and consequently our present greatest evaluation of the annual funding that will probably be required to ship the tasks”.
