Key information for pedestrians accessing rail services in Ystrad

Ystrad Rhondda Railway Station users are advised that Brook Street bridge, the main footbridge serving the station, will be brought out of use from next week for completion of contract works. A series of temporary measures will be in place to help pedestrians access the station platforms and local rail services.

The large footbridge that connects Nant Gwyddon Close and Brook Street provides a key link for the community, but the old structure had reached the end of its design life. Following a significant replacement scheme funded by the Council and Welsh Government, the new footbridge was opened last year.

As part of the final phase of works relating to the replacement scheme, and following an inspection period, the Council’s contractor is now required to complete further bridge deck surfacing. This will be undertaken at no further cost to the Council, and completed before the final handover of the structure.

The Council’s contractor will also take the opportunity to carry out other completion works over the weeks ahead, to make best use of the closure. This will include work to the deck plates and parapets, as well as paintwork.

The essential surfacing work requires a full closure of Brook Street footbridge from Monday, August 12, to ensure public safety. The car park that serves Ystrad Rhondda Railway Station will temporarily close, so it can be used as the contractor site compound. The work is expected to last around one month.

Temporary arrangements for pedestrians will be put in place by the Council’s contractor during the work. The only access to the northbound platform of the station will be via a stepped railway footbridge, that will be clearly signposted. For those people unable to use the stepped access – including wheelchair users – a series of local arrangements will be put in place. These include:

• A FREE accessible bus service operating from Gelli Industrial Estate (at the bus stop outside UPVC Windows) to Ystrad Rhondda Railway Station (at the Brook Street/Trafalgar Terrace junction).

• A FREE accessible bus service operating from Ton Pentre Railway Station, connecting to Ystrad Station and the temporary bus service at Gelli Industrial Estate. This caters for railway passengers (arriving from the direction of Cardiff) wishing to alight at Ystrad Station but cannot use the northern platform’s stepped access. Passengers should remain on the train to Ton Pentre, and catch the free bus back to Ystrad.

Please note that these temporary bus services will only be in operation during the normal hours of the local railway services at Ystrad Rhondda Station.

The temporary bus service timetable will be included on the Transport for Wales website, here. For any travel or rail-related queries, passengers can contact the Transport for Wales customer helpline on 0333 3211 202 or its WhatsApp service on 07790 952507. The contractor’s Public Liaison Officer can be contacted (8am-5.30pm, Monday-Friday) on 0300 041 4635.

Please also note that, from August 12, pedestrian access will be maintained to the nearby football fields. An alternative route will be clearly signposted.

Local residents will be receiving a letter that further outlines the nature of the works, along with the pedestrian and travel arrangements.