News - Work is well under way on £4m park and ride facility in Abercynon

10th June 2010

Work is well under way on a £4m park and ride scheme in Abercynon which forms part of a wider investment to improve Rhondda Cynon Taf's transport infrastructure and regeneration

Work on the innovative scheme began earlier this year and the new facility is set to be open to the public by Spring of 2011.

It has been made possible thanks to investment from the European Regional Development Fund through the European Union's Convergence Programme, which is administered by the Welsh Assembly Government, as well as the Rail Forward Programme from the Welsh Assembly Government.

Developed by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, the park and ride forms part of the Sewta regional initiative to encourage travel by rail the same scheme that has seen improvements to facilities at Llanharan and Pontypridd and the improvement of services between the county borough and Cardiff.

Capita Glamorgan Consultancy has designed the facility, which is supported by Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail.

Situated on land between the River Taff and the new Abercynon train station, the park and ride will provide a modern, safe parking facility that has direct access to the station via a new subway link.

It will provide parking for up to 160 cars, including 11 disabled parking spaces, CCTV coverage, improved lighting and signage, a new bridge with paved footways either side to link to Navigation Park and access to the upgraded Abercynon train station subway.

The park and ride, in conjunction with improvements to train frequencies on the line, will ease traffic congestion by encouraging the use of a modern, appropriate public transport network.

Sewta (South East Wales Transport Alliance) is a regional initiative to promote and deliver improved public transport and is an alliance of the 10 south east Wales local authorities.

The proposed Park and Ride forms part of the Pontypridd to Merthyr Frequency Enhancements scheme, which in turn forms part of a package of rail improvement projects already implemented by the Council.

The Taff Trail has been diverted via Navigation Park during the construction phase. Upon project completion, the Taff Trail will be reinstated along its original route adjacent the River Taff.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's Cabinet Member for Transport and Customer Care Cllr. Andrew Morgan said: We are committed to working to ensure our county borough has an excellent transport infrastructure that ensures a better quality of life for all and works towards wider regeneration.

We have already delivered significantly against that commitment, with the support of our partners, by improving existing facilities, introducing news ones and delivering two of the biggest highway schemes from any local authority in the UK.

The progress of work at Abercynon Park and Ride is yet further proof of that and, when completed, will offer a user-friendly, modern and safe facility that will not only assist commuters to and from Rhondda Cynon Taf, but will also provide a gateway to our county borough and its business facilities, such as Navigation Park.