Board 2 - The Existing Station

In Step 1 of our Community Engagement (online heatmap and questionnaire), we received 198 comments on the station map, and 408 individual responses to our questionnaire.

From these responses, and through our initial design studies, we identified 4 key problem areas at the current station which any new design would need to address.

The Southwest Entrance

• There is no clear entrance from the southwest;
• The route down to platform level is steep and not accessible for all;
• The ramp and footbridge arrangement means people using Platforms 1 and 2 and the buses must change level 3 times ;
• Visitors to the town can easily get lost because the exit route is not clearly part of the interchange.

The Bus Station

• The bus waiting area is very narrow and exposed to vehicles and pollution.
• The location of the platform building prevents visibility and easier movement between trains and buses.
• The waiting spaces are very exposed to wind and rain and not comfortable.

The Existing Buildings and Bridges

• The road and building bridges are suffering from loss of structure due to corrosion and will need to be strengthened or replaced within the next 20 years;
• Both bridges share a common structural beam, making future replacement of one or other of them very challenging and disruptive;
• The old ticket office building occupies the only location on the site which is visible from the high street and is key to the project objective of creating a new landmark and gateway to Caerphilly;
• The old ticket office building does not meet the sustainability ambitions for a new interchange.

The Main Entrance

• The existing station forecourt prioritises vehicles and features many barriers for people to navigate;
• The entrance to the station is not visible from the high street, and is not clear enough even when arriving at the site;
• The buildings and canopies lack a coherent identity which reflects Caerphilly and points the way to the town and historic centre;
• The lighting between the public realm and the entrance to the station is poor.

At the bottom of the image you can see the timeline of community and stakeholder engagement.

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