A LONG-awaited disabled access at Abergavenny Train Station will finally become a reality after Carwyn Jones announced it would be created as part of a revamp of Wales’ rail network.

Campaigners have long been calling for a disabled access to be created at the station. Currently disabled people using the station have to call ahead at least 24 hours in advance to ask for a member of staff to guide them over the tracks.

The only other way to cross the tracks is via a 45-step footbridge, which is unusable for the disabled.

But, speaking in the Assembly this week, the first minister said the access would be created as part of a £15 million revamp of stations across Wales. The news comes after the Wales and Borders franchise was handed over to Transport for Wales after being run by Arriva Trains Wales for 15 years.

Mr Jones was responding to a question from Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay, who said: “We didn't get very far under the old Arriva south Wales border franchise in dealing with problems of the lack of disabled access, much to the frustration of local people in my constituency, including prominent disabled access campaigner Dan Biddle.

“I wonder whether you can give us an assurance that, under the new Transport for Wales structure and under the new franchise as we move forward, the necessary improvements will now be made so that rail passengers across Wales will be able to benefit from unfettered access, whether or not they're able-bodied or disabled?”

Saying £15 million had been allocated to improving disabled access at train stations across the country, Mr Jones said: “Abergavenny station is one of the stations that will be upgraded to ensure – well, 'upgraded' is the wrong word, really – it will ensure that what should be normal, i.e. disabled access, will be there.”