DISABLED access at railway stations in Cwmbran and Abergavenny is to be improved as part of a £300m project making stations across the UK more accessible.

The UK Government has announced the series of improvements at 73 stations in total, including 11 in Wales. Among them are Cwmbran and Abergavenny stations, with Caerphilly station also included.

Improvements will include new footbridges, lifts, tactile pavements and adjustable ticket counters, with the work to be carried out over the next five years.

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Welsh secretary Alun Cairns welcomed the news.

“Inaccessible transport must be a thing of the past," he said. "That’s why the UK Government is investing in 11 Welsh stations to ensure many more passengers feel able to get to their destinations independently.

“These improvements are in line with our commitment to build a bigger, better railway for Wales, delivering improved journeys for passengers on the most advanced new trains.”

The station chosen to benefit from improvements were selected based on factors including footfall and the number of disabled people in the area.

Making the announcement, transport minister Nusrat Ghani said: “Transport is vital for connecting people with work, friends and family, but also enabling them to enjoy visiting some of the wonderful cultural, historical and natural sites across the UK.

“We want the 13.9 million disabled people in Britain to be empowered to travel independently, which is why I am delighted to announce this roll out of upgrades across the rail network.

“Over the next five years these newly accessible stations will open up routes across the country, helping us move closer to a transport sector that is truly accessible.”