WSP, the engineering professional services consultancy, delivered multi-disciplinary design services to Transport for Wales (TfW) as part of the newly opened Bow Street Transport Interchange project.
The new station located between Machynlleth and Aberystwyth opened on Sunday 14 February and will boost connectivity for communities across West Wales.
This is the first new station delivered by TfW since taking on the role of overseeing the Wales & Borders rail franchise in 2018, with other developments underway across Wales.
It was announced recently that as of Sunday 7 February, the Welsh Government had taken the Wales and Borders rail franchise into public ownership and that TfW is now operating the Wales and Borders rail services under a subsidiary, ‘Transport for Wales Rail LTD’.
WSP’s Cardiff-based design team consisting of Highways, Rail, Civil, Bridge & Ground, Water, Environmental and Transport has been involved in the project since 2018, working collaboratively with stakeholders including Ceredigion County Council, Network Rail and Natural Resources Wales.
Nick Heard, WSP Project Director and TfW Client Account Manager, said: “The new Bow Street Transport Interchange will transform connectivity for local communities whilst being an exemplar of inclusive design and active travel opportunities. The close collaboration between WSP, TfW and the many important stakeholders has benefited the creation of a what is a fantastic piece of infrastructure, bringing together rail, road and cycling.”
The original station was closed and cleared in 1965 and the refreshed transport interchange will now be a vital hub of mobility for local residents, providing better connectivity to businesses, local amenities and onward travel across Wales and the UK.
A process of detailed remodelling of the original designs meant WSP could better address local flooding concerns, undertaken within the significant constraints of available land, the existing flat topography and the adjacent trunk road.
The Bow Street Transport Interchange improvements include a renewed focus on inclusivity and active travel, with the station linking to a new active travel route recently constructed by Ceredigion Council, along with a new cycle shelter and wider improvements to the existing A4159 junction with the A487.
James Price, Transport for Wales CEO, said: “It’s an exciting and important milestone for us to complete the first new station since taking over the Wales and Borders rail service. It is testament to the skill and hard work of our teams that they have been able to deliver this new station despite the many challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last year.
“Public transport is currently open to those making essential journeys only, but we look forward to welcoming residents and visitors to Bow Street when lockdown restrictions have changed and it is safe to do.”
WSP is working on several projects in Wales which have community at their heart, including as civil and structural engineers for the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran and designing the RNLI’s new lifeboat station in Pwllheli.
Mark Valentine, Business Growth Director at WSP, said: “WSP has a strong heritage in Wales and I’m delighted that we’ve supported TfW in delivering this new station. Connectivity is an important issue for communities across Wales and the exciting pipeline of projects TfW has planned underlines the focus they have on boosting transport links and driving economic resilience.”
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACTS
Dan Williams, UK PR Manager, WSP
[email protected] / 07341 681 673
