I’M CONTINUALLY flabbergasted at the condition of Newport train station. While this £10m metal-monstrosity was never attractive to begin with, and certainly unnecessary, the state of disrepair is breathtaking.

Considering so much money was wasted on it where is the upkeep? Is anyone responsible?

The dome of the roof has discoloured into a nasty shade of mouldy green-brown. The floor-to-ceiling windows out front are absolutely filthy, stained, and smeared. One set of ‘automatic’ entrance doors are out of order and have a large cross sticky-taped across them. They’ve been out of order for well over a month now! Should they ever get repaired I can’t see those tape marks being cleaned off easily, if at all.

As with many other things in Newport the rot has (literally) set in. Even the little Café at the station didn’t stay.

What ‘city’ train station doesn’t have a café on site to serve customers, travellers, and even the local taxi rank drivers.

The old train station was operating perfectly fine, and it was a joy to use.

The blatant low standard of maintenance, on this overpriced building we didn’t need, is just another reminder why Newport should never have been afforded city status. 

Sarah Symonds
Bassaleg
Newport