IMPROVEMENTS to passenger access at Barry train station are in the pipeline while one Barry rail users has condemned current arrangements as inadequate.

Commuter Mark Vockins, of Broad Street, Barry, said wheelchair users, those with general mobility issues and people with push chairs or heavy luggage faced having to travel to Barry Island station and return to be able to access platform one and Barry station’s main building and exit rather than negotiate the steep footbridge.

He said passengers also have to travel from Barry station to Barry Dock station to board the Bridgend bound train.

He said the access issue added a further ten or 15 minutes onto the average journey as no lifts or subway were available.

Network Rail said it recognised the difficulties and was working to address the problems with a scheme to improve access currently in development.

Mr Vockins, 39, said: “If you are in a wheelchair you can’t access platform three if you are on the Barry side. You have to catch the train to Barry Dock and get the train to Bridgend. It adds ten to 15 minutes onto their journey.

“There should be a lift. They would have to re-do the bridge. They have spent a lot of money on platform three and can’t put it to good use.”

Cardiff & Vale public transport commentator, Chris Ware said: “It is disappointing that the station serving Wales' largest town has such poor customer facilities. It is a basic requirement to cater for wheelchair and pushchair users and Network Rail should be putting this at the top of their list of priorities for much needed improvements at Barry station.”

A Network Rail spokeswoman said: “Improving access at stations is an important part of our on-going work to deliver a bigger and better railway for Wales. Step-free access not only benefits disabled passengers or those with reduced mobility, but also people with children, heavy luggage or shopping.

“We are working with both the Department for Transport and Welsh Government, to deliver accessibility improvements at a number of stations across Wales, including Llandaf, Ystrad Mynach and Radyr.

“Additionally, in April, the Department for Transport announced that Barry was one of 42 stations across Britain which will benefit from a Government fund to improve access for disabled passengers. We are now working with the Department for Transport and Welsh Government to design and develop the scheme at Barry.”