Wrexham General station set to undergo upgrades as part of plans by Transport for Wales

Wrexham’s main railway station is set to undergo upgrades if plans put forward by Transport for Wales receive the go ahead.

The application would result in improvements to the waiting room serving platforms two and three at Wrexham General, which is located off the main Mold Road/Regent Street gateway into the town.

Toilet facilities would be enhanced on platform one with a family changing room and disabled access toilet.

The work is to be undertaken by Keolis Amey, which runs the Wales and Borders franchise, with signs highlighting local transport links and provisions for disabled people also in the pipeline.

Planning documents show steps will be taken to protect the character of the building, which was awarded Grade II listed status in 1986 as a “good example” of Great Western Railway station architecture.

It states: “Keolis Amey has been commissioned by Transport for Wales (TfW) to carry out a series of general station improvement upgrades to rail stations across Wales.

“The proposed works that have potential to impact on the listed building are:

– The enlargement of the platform two/three waiting room by removing internal divides and reopening windows
– The upgrade of the platform one changing and toilet provisions including the renovation of the existing toilet block as well as the repurposing of an existing storage room as a family changing place and disabled toilet provisions
– The installation of three new signs – two of which are on the listed building – with the third being placed at the Mold Road platform four entrance

“Works will have a limited scope relating to the listed building and where possible materials should be sourced from recycled sources.”

Wider proposals were previously unveiled to improve transport and business links by regenerating the area around the station as part of the Wrexham Gateway scheme.

The Welsh Government recently announced it had acquired two key plots of land to unlock the project, including the former Countrywide Stores building, opposite the entrance to the station.

The site is set to be developed primarily to improve the connection between bus and rail transport links.

The latest upgrade plans will be considered by Wrexham Council at a future date.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter