Holyhead station improvement proposals

Options consultation period update

The options consultation period for Holyhead station WelTAG Stage 2 closed on Thursday 22 December 2022. To speak with a member of the Transport for Wales project team, please make contact with engagement@tfw.Wales

To make contact with Transport for Wales regarding anything else, please visit this page for contact information: Help and contact | TfW

Holyhead station scheme background 

The Holyhead station scheme is being developed using WelTAG (the Welsh Government’s transport appraisal guidance). Currently, the Holyhead station scheme is going through WelTAG Stage 2 (Outline Business Case). WelTAG 2017 sets out a process and broad framework for identifying, appraising and evaluating solutions to address transport-related issues. It helps to identify the most beneficial scheme and allows schemes to be compared on a like-for-like basis.

The WelTAG process comprises five stages which are intended to cover the lifecycle of a proposed transport scheme, from conception to post-implementation evaluation.

The five stages of WelTAG are:

• Stage One – Strategic Outline Case
• Stage Two – Outline Business Case
• Stage Three – Full Business Case
• Stage Four – Implementation
• Stage Five – Post Implementation (Monitoring and Evaluation)

An update to WelTAG guidance (to reflect Llwybr Newydd, the new Wales transport strategy 2021) was published by the Welsh Government in August 2022 and is currently out for consultation.

Options consultation: 10 November to 22 December 2022 (now closed)

The options consultation period ran from Thursday 10 November until midnight on Thursday 22 December 2022.

Stakeholders and the local community could provide views by:

• Completing an online feedback form, available via the survey link here and below
• Filling in a paper feedback form. These were located at Holyhead station (London Road, Holyhead, L65 2NE) and Holyhead Library (Holyhead Market Hall, Stanley Street, Holyhead, LL65 1HH).

Scheme options

This study takes a long-term holistic approach to making the improvements needed to establish Holyhead station as a transport hub. To do this, the focus has been on a number of general improvement areas, which are summarised below along with some of the options that have been considered:

Wayfinding

• Improve signage within the railway station
• Improve signage between the railway station and Holyhead Town Centre
• Improve provision and quality of signage which welcomes visitors and makes the station feel welcoming and attractive (as a gateway to Wales.)

Accessibility 

• Make Black Bridge pedestrian and cyclist only
• Make Black Bridge single lane/one way traffic 
• Remove existing footbridge (between platform 1 and Victoria Road) 
• Replace the existing footbridge (between platform 1 and Victoria Road) with a new footbridge.
• Create pedestrian link from Celtic Gateway Bridge to Victoria Road to increase accessibility to the lower level of Victoria Road
• Improve access to Holyhead station making it accessible for all – particularly those with limited mobility, in wheelchairs or with pushchairs

 Active travel

• Introduce designated cycle lanes and footways on Black Bridge and the entrances to the station
• Ensure existing active travel routes to the station and wider Holyhead area are integrated with the initiatives at the station
• Increase active travel infrastructure by providing cycle storage facilities at the station
• Provide rentable bicycles at the station
• Provide new pedestrian footways and cycle ways within the station
• Repurpose car parking facilities to the east of the station at the Black Bridge/A55 junction for pedestrian and cycle access
• Remove contradictory signage within the station that could deter cyclists

 Physical environment

• Rearrange the area to the east of the station to create space for a transport hub
• Refill part of the harbour and redevelop the land to improve the station environment.
• Refurbish and transform areas of the station that are currently derelict into retail and community opportunities

 Inside the station

• Redesign platform 1 to improve the appeal, making the most of the inner harbour view
• Remove buildings on platform 1, but with a new canopy to shelter passengers provided
• Reopen and use space between platforms 2 and 3 where there is a ‘missing platform’
• Install a canopy on platform 3
• Relocate public transport services from platform 1 to other platforms, so the focus of all transport operations is on platforms 2-3, leaving platform 1 available for other operational purposes (i.e., train maintenance and freight services)

 Integration with other modes of transport

• Provide Holyhead with a dedicated transport interchange hub located at Holyhead station
• Integrate ticketing between rail, ferry and bus 
• Improve integration between rail and port timings to avoid arrival and departure times overlapping and causing delays
• Increase public transport offer at the station by improving integration with local bus services
• Relocate the bus stops currently located on Victoria Road to reduce the walking distance to the station entrance
• Restore rail services to pre-pandemic frequency levels
• Increase the frequency of rail services to key economic centres in Wales and England

 Anti-social behaviour

• There is also an overarching option that focuses on the need to address anti-social behaviour

Public exhibition

A public exhibition was held during the options consultation period at: Market Hall, Stanley Street, Holyhead LL65 1HH on 24 November 2022 between 12pm and 8pm.

Members of the public were welcome to attend to view the scheme proposals and speak with project team members.

Deposit locations

You can find scheme information and paper feedback forms were available during the options consultation period at:

• Holyhead station (London Road, Holyhead, L65 2NE) 
• Holyhead Library (Holyhead Library, Holyhead Market Hall, Stanley Street, Holyhead, LL65 1HH)