Swansea station gets a £7m facelift

The work to improve Swansea station is part of a series of improvements to the railways in South West Wales.

We tied in the renewal work at the station to increase the scope of the project, which was delivered by station operator Arriva Trains Wales.

The work included:

• New canopies over the platforms and the station’s main entrance
• Glass screen wall to cut draughts on the station concourse but also allow light into the building
• New ticket barriers
• Two new buildings inside the station circulating area, including an information point
• A new ticket office
• Station frontage ecoblasted and cleaned

Work continues behind the scenes to make repairs to the roof and damp proof the building.

More train services and encouraging business growth

Our managing director Mark Langman said: “The work will have a big impact on people’s first impressions of Swansea and passengers will enjoy a much brighter and more comfortable station.

Along with the Welsh Assembly Government, we are also laying double track to the line between Swansea and Gowerton, and rebuilding the Loughor viaduct, bringing the potential for more services to points west of Swansea and encouraging business growth across the region.”

Fact file

• Swansea station was built in 1850, originally of timber construction
• The station was completely reconstructed in stone 1932, along with Cardiff Central (Caerdydd Canolog)
• Swansea station was originally known as Swansea High Street station, until the city’s other mainline stations closed and it became the only one
• More than two million passengers use the station each year
• Funding for the £7m project came from Network Rail, the Welsh Assembly Government and the National Stations Improvement Programme

Read more about the National Stations Improvement Programme, and Access for All.