Wales

Remodelling Llandudno Train Station

Llandudno train station, Wales

The remodelling of Llandudno Train Station has recently been completed after a 13 month onsite refurbishment process.

Main contractors Buckingham and engineering consultants Mott MacDonald were heavily involved in the onsite development and worked alongside Network Rail to bring the station up to a modern standard.

Rail Construction News caught up with Robert Grey from Network Rail, who acted as the Scheme Project Manager, to find out more about the project. The scheme involved a complete remodelling of the station, its buildings and addressing the access issues at the front of the station; as well as the construction of a new 128 space car park.

Site surveys of the station were undertaken in October 2012 and the project reached its design stage shortly after. Construction works started in February 2013 and the development has recently completed in March this year.

Robert said:

“The project had been discussed and planned for many years prior, as both Network Rail and Conwy Council were keen to update the facility. Part of the station was demolished in the years prior to the commencement of the project, as it was unsafe, after a fire broke out and this left the station looking particularly tired and an eyesore.

“The project was largely funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, the Department for Transport and the North Wales transport consortium Taith. A Rail Heritage Grant was also awarded specifically to retain as many of the heritage features of the original station, as the station is located in a conservation area.

“We worked alongside a conservation officer from Conwy Council throughout the project in order to gain approval for our designs, as well as to ensure we stayed in line with the town conservation rules.”

Llandudno train station, Wales

Robert said the team ensured they retained and restored as much of the old ironwork on the platform and the old original Victorian features of the station as possible. Therefore the station has been modernised facility-wise but remained true to its original features.

The works programme included the installation of a car park with space for 128 vehicles, which was constructed over two of the station’s redundant platforms. The station’s rear platform canopies were also repaired, re-clad and extended in order to give better coverage to the platforms. The whole station area has been levelled off in line with the regulations of the Equality Act, which has made the station a much smoother, more accessible space.

The onsite team also installed a new ticket office during the project and converted the old cab road entrance into a glass booking hall, which has been one of the biggest changes to the layout of the station. New toilet facilities have also been installed including a specialist accessible toilet, a “Changing Places” facility, complete with showers and hoists.

So much space has been cleared during the renovation there is now the potential for a retail outlet on the site as well. Robert said it has been great to be involved in such a long anticipated and worthwhile development scheme:

“Previously the station was very tired looking with parts of the old demolished roof stacked up on disused platforms and quite a dark unwelcoming rear concourse area. Therefore when we began onsite works in February 2013 the station was visually poor and contained very old facilities which weren’t necessarily accessible. Now we have brought the station up to modern standards as well as managed to retain all the heritage features. It’s been a fantastic scheme to be involved with. The number of stakeholders has been high, yet we have all worked collaboratively to overcome any issues and deliver what is a visually a stunning transformation at the station. The station will now continue to be a great asset to the railway, the town and the community”

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