Transport for Wales (TfW) have announced five new Railway Stations for Newport.
The five proposed new stations include:-
Cardiff East
Newport West
Somerton
Llanwern
Magor & Undy
But what of Caerleon?
STATEMENT FROM HUW DAVIES
Former Caerleon Conservative Council Candidate
“If any area is in need of a new railway station, it’s Caerleon. There are only two major roadways in-and-out of Caerleon and air pollution has been a big issue in the village. Providing strong public transport links should be an absolute priority, especially with all the new houses they are building. It’s somewhat concerning that no announcement has been made regarding Caerleon.”
HISTORY / BACKGROUND
Caerleon’s Railway Station first opened in 1874 and ran for almost 88 years, before closing to passengers for the last time in April 1962. As many people will know, you can still stand on the Lodge Road Railway Bridge and look down at the old Station, which is now occupied by a variety of businesses.
In 2012, the South East Wales Transport Alliance (Sewta) put forward proposals to build a new train station at Caerleon and make improvements to stations between Newport and Abergavenny. The proposed new station was to be sited 500 metres from the former University campus and a short walk from the town's Roman sites.
Moving on six years later and Wikipedia states:- “Transport for Wales announced in 2018 that Caerleon is a target for reopening as part of the South Wales Metro project. It would join similar proposed facilities at Magor, Cardiff Parkway and Llanwern.”
Considering the TfW announcement today features the line including Magor, Cardiff Parkway and Llanwern - one has to ask the question if the Caerleon Station has been scrapped? Or is it planned for the future?
Proposals to reopen Caerleon Railway Station were supposedly strengthened following the decision by First Minister Mark Drakeford in 2019 to scrap the M4 Relief Road.
There has been relative silence now on a new Station for Caerleon since the pandemic.
One does have to wonder whether the closure of the University Campus in 2016 might have also weakened the need for a new Railway Station in Caerleon?
READ: Plans for five new railway stations in South East Wales and more cross-border services
To share your views on the consultation visit: https://haveyoursay.tfw.wales/sew-new-stations-and-services
