Designed to regain currently unusable space at stations across Wales, the Transport for Wales Station Improvement Vision scheme, in partnership with the Railway Heritage Trust, has recently turned to Abergele & Pensarn Railway Station to begin revamp work.
At Abergele & Pensarn, contractors are in the process of transforming the old booking office and main station building, which will include the following work:
- Re-plastering
- Redecoration
- New lighting
- Fitting heating system
The aim of the project is to bring businesses or community schemes in to previously unused space, which can lead to big social and economic benefits for local areas.
Abergele and Pensarn is on the North Wales Coast line that links Holyhead and Chester, the station is unstaffed and has been for a number of years and hence needs a lot of work.
Head of Community Rail Hugh Evans said: “Abergele & Pensarn is a beautiful station with so much history and potential.
“It was amazing to see what the space was like when we first looked inside, almost like stepping back in time. Being able to put the space to a real good use for the community will make a big difference to the area and we are proud to be delivering this project.
“Investing in bringing disused spaces at stations back to community or commercial use is a key part of our strategy because we know stations are more than just somewhere you get on a train, they are community hubs. We'd also like to thank the Railway Heritage Trust for their support of the project.”
Abergele Mayor Councillor Alan Hunter said: “The work being carried out by Transport for Wales to bring the Abergele & Pensarn Station buildings back in to use is a major step forward in the regeneration of the area.
“There is real excitement and interest from local people as to what will be coming to the area.
“The plans to share the station with community groups has been well received and will be a massive benefit to local residents, communities and the wider public who use the station.
“I would like to thank Transport for Wales and their team for choosing our station at Abergele Pensarn for regeneration and look forward to seeing the completed work and the buildings open for use.”
Executive Director of the Railway Heritage Trust Andy Savage said: “The Railway Heritage Trust gives grants to find new uses for disused spaces in Network Rail's heritage railway buildings.
“As Abergele and Pensarn is a listed building we have had our eye on it as a potential project for some years, and we have been delighted to award TfW Rail a grant of over £210,000 towards restoring the building.
“Our grant has been particularly focussed on ensuring doors and windows are correctly reinstated, so as to not only improve the appearance of the buildings, but also to make them much more usable.
“We look forward to seeing the buildings back serving the community and the railway once more.”
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