Work is finally underway to finish the refurbishment of the Llandaf railway station canopy – three years after it began. The upgrade to platform one at Llandaf station — which heads into the city centre — started before the pandemic but work has only just resumed.
The refurbishment finally started again in March and is on track to be completed in June. The station, on the edge of Llandaff North, is one of the most used in Cardiff with over 260,000 station entries and exits last year, according to the Office of Rail and Road.
However, rail users have been left with limited shelter and limited visibility of the digital board, and nowhere to sit due to the delays over the past few years. Transport for Wales (TfW) said that the delays were due to the Covid pandemic and the transfer of rail services to TfW in 2021. However, recent delays are due to “changes to the design”, according to a spokesperson.
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Siobhan Corria, a Llandaff North resident, thinks that the lack of seating available is an issue. “I don’t understand how there can’t be seats for disabled people?” she asked. The upgrade will see benches come back to the platform once it is finished.
With the digital board blocked from view, Ms Corria also cannot see it from over the other side of the platform. A spokesperson for TfW said: “While the digital boards are not accessible customers can use the new TfW app and website, speak to staff in the booking office and there are also bilingual announcements giving the latest information.”
But Lyndon Jones – a Whitchurch resident that uses the Llandaf station regularly for his journeys – has no issue with the lack of shelter. He said: “The canopy has no impact on my journeys as there is cover by the ticket machine if required and as there are frequent trains going into Cardiff there never appears to be a huddle of people scrambling for cover.”
Mr Jones’ main issue with the work is the “ugliness” of the unfinished canopy. Teams are working on the canopy when the line is closed during the day and night to finish the upgrade. The upgrade was announced in 2019 as part of TfW’s Station Improvement Vision, an investment plan to improve all railway stations in Wales.
The station will be getting new benches and brickwork as part of the upgrade and the canopy roof is also being repaired. To get Cardiff news straight to your inbox, subscribe to our daily newsletter here.
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