Janet Finch-Saunders MS, who has been working on improving access between Dolgarrog Railway Station and Dolgarrog for several years, and has helped secure £1.9m investment in the pipe bridge, has also been tackling the accessibility problem at the railway crossing.
At present, wheelchairs, bikes, and prams cannot get through the gate on the western side of the railway crossing.
Having raised the problem with Transport for Wales and Network Rail since 2021, Network Rail have now provided an update. An official has advised that:
- The off-track team are due to undertake a site meeting to assess how they can improve accessibility to the station in the short term. It is considered that removing the section of fencing next to the kissing gate is the best way to immediately make the crossing more accessible;
- There is no funding to complete a long-term re-design until between 1st of April 2024 and 2029.
Commenting on the accessibility of Dolgarrog Station, Janet said:
“In the time almost £2m has been secured to re-pair and re-open Dolgarrog bridge, which links the community to the railway station, hardly any progress has been made with improving accessibility at the railway crossing.
“Transport for Wales and Network Rail have known about this issue for years, so it is extremely disappointing that no long term solution has been implemented.
“I welcome that short term measures to be implemented this financial year are now being considered. At the end of the day, changed is needed urgently so that the station is accessible to all”.
ENDS
Documents:
Email from Network Rail
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders AS wedi bod yn gweithio ar wella mynediad rhwng Gorsaf Reilffordd Dolgarrog a Dolgarrog ers blynyddoedd lawer, ac wedi helpu i sicrhau buddsoddiad o £1.9m yn y bont bibellau, a hefyd wedi bod yn mynd i'r afael â'r broblem hygyrchedd wrth groesfan y rheilffordd.
Ar hyn o bryd, ni all cadeiriau olwyn, beiciau na phramiau fynd trwy'r giât ar ochr orllewinol y groesfan reilffordd.
Ar ôl codi'r broblem gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru a Network Rail ers 2021, mae Network Rail bellach wedi rhannu'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf. Mae swyddog wedi dweud:
- Mae disgwyl i'r tîm oddi ar y traciau gynnal cyfarfod safle i asesu sut y gallant wella hygyrchedd i'r orsaf yn y tymor byr. Ystyrir mai tynnu'r rhan o’r ffens wrth ymyl y giât mochyn yw'r ffordd orau o wneud y groesfan yn fwy hygyrch ar unwaith;
- Nid oes cyllid ar gyfer ailgynllunio hirdymor tan rhwng 1 Ebrill 2024 a 2029.
Wrth sôn am hygyrchedd Gorsaf Dolgarrog, dywedodd Janet:
"Yn y cyfnod lle mae bron i £2m wedi ei sicrhau i atgyweirio ac ailagor pont Dolgarrog, sy'n cysylltu'r gymuned â'r orsaf reilffordd, does prin unrhyw gynnydd wedi'i wneud i wella hygyrchedd ar groesfan y rheilffordd.
"Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru a Network Rail yn ymwybodol o’r mater hwn ers blynyddoedd, felly mae'n hynod siomedig nad oes datrysiad hirdymor wedi'i roi ar waith.
"Rwy'n croesawu bod mesurau tymor byr i'w rhoi ar waith yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon bellach yn cael eu hystyried. Yn y pen draw, mae angen newid ar unwaith fel bod yr orsaf yn hygyrch i bawb".
DIWEDD
Dogfennau:
E-bost gan Network Rail
