Work will soon begin to create 52 car parking spaces at Treorchy Railway Station, with the Council supporting Transport for Wales to create a new Park and Ride facility. Minimal overall disruption is expected during the work.
The scheme will begin from Monday, July 22, to build the new facility on unused land off Clos Ystradfechan. It will be located south of the Cae Mawr football pitch and south-east of the railway station – beyond the small existing car park. The site is owned by Transport for Wales and was most-recently used as a site compound for its railway electrification work. Centregreat Ltd has been appointed as the contractor to deliver this scheme on site.
Overall, 52 car parking spaces will be created – 43 standard spaces, six EV charging spaces and three disabled spaces. The site will include sustainable drainage through seven rain gardens, each about the size of a parking space.
Initial work during July and August 2024 will establish a drainage pipeline adjacent to the football pitch, along with an attenuation tank north of the pitch. Rainwater from the main site will be transported along this route to the river via the allotments, where drainage work was previously completed. Work on the main site will start in September 2024 for completion in early spring 2025.
There will be minimal overall disruption during the work, as the main site is located on unused land. However, during construction of the drainage work (July and August) the service track north of Cae Mawr football pitch, and the football pitch itself, will be unavailable. The football pitch will be open as usual after the drainage works are completed (from September). The small car park currently serving the railway station will be unavailable from September 2024.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has provided funding for the construction cost of the scheme, via its 2024/25 Highways and Transportation Capital Programme.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “The new Park and Ride facility to serve Treorchy Railway Station will be an invaluable addition to the community, increasing residents’ access to public transport. Currently, there is only a small car park serving the station – made up of seven spaces – so the new 52-space facility represents a large upgrade.
“Encouraging more people to use public transport for all or part of their everyday journeys has many advantages – from reducing congestion on our roads to lowering journey times and helping to improve the environment. That is why the Council has provided a significant capital investment, of around £733,000, to support Transport for Wales in its delivery of this scheme.
“The extra parking provision will also complement the delivery of the South Wales Metro, which will bring an increased frequency of rail services through the Rhondda lines. Transport for Wales has appointed a contractor for the scheme, which will start from July 22 – first focusing on the drainage works before moving onto the main scheme in September. Thanks in advance to the community for your cooperation.”
Dan Tipper, Chief Infrastructure Officer at Transport for Wales, added: “We’re on a journey at TfW to improve public transport and in doing so, encourage more people to use it. This new park and ride facility will improve accessibility to Treorchy Railway Station and encourage people to leave their car and jump on one of our trains.
“We’re continuing to deliver the South Wales Metro and we’ll be offering customers newer and more frequent rail services which will allow them to travel more sustainably.”
