Residents of a village in South Wales which has been without a train station for 60 years have received some good news.
Plans for a new station in St Athan have taken a big step forward and Councillor Lis Burnett from Vale of Glamorgan Council said it’s a “significant announcement”, reports Wales Online.
The Department for Transport is ready to join forces with the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Transport for Wales. They want to fund and create a plan for a new train station.
It could mean that after six decades with no trains, St Athan could see them running again on the Vale of Glamorgan line.
Cllr Burnett said: “We have an aspiration through our new Local Development Plan to provide for truly sustainable development with excellent infrastructure and transport connections to support new growth.
“To this end, I am in no doubt that the exciting strategic proposals for development at St Athan and Aberthaw provide the basis of a clear business case for the new station and I look forward to feasibility work progressing.”
The train line in Vale of Glamorgan came back in 2005, but St Athan’s station didn’t. People in the village have to go to Llantwit Major or Rhoose Cardiff International Airport stations.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “The return of service to St Athan for the first time in 60 years would be key to unlocking the area’s huge potential for growth, encouraging more businesses to invest in the area and opening up job opportunities for thousands of people.”
