New pedestrian bridge to bring step-free access to Tenby station

Work has started at Tenby railway station to install sections of a new pedestrian bridge as part of a major accessibility upgrade. The project is being delivered through the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme and will provide step-free access to both platforms for the first time.

The upgrade is intended to make the station easier and safer to use for disabled passengers, people with reduced mobility, parents with pushchairs and other rail users. Tenby station will remain open during the works, with trains continuing to operate as normal.

The installation of the bridge marks an important stage in transforming the station from a traditional platform arrangement into a more inclusive public transport interchange. Once complete, passengers will be able to move between platforms without relying on stairs alone.

Bridge installation at an active railway station requires careful planning because work must be carried out safely while keeping passenger services running. Temporary closures and access changes have therefore been introduced to support the lifting and installation of bridge sections.

The station car park has been closed and is expected to reopen at 7am on Saturday 11 July. Passengers are being directed to alternative car parks nearby, including The Green, Salterns Car Park, Sainsbury’s Multi-Storey Car Park and Seafront Car Park.

Overnight road closures are also being implemented on Warren Street and Station Road between 9pm and 5am from Saturday 4 July until Thursday 9 July. These roads will reopen each morning to reduce daytime disruption. A temporary pick-up and drop-off point will be available on the corner of Greenhill Avenue.

This type of temporary traffic and access management is common for station upgrade works, especially when large structural elements must be delivered and installed in constrained urban locations. The challenge is to protect workers and the public while maintaining rail operations and local access as far as possible.

Accessibility upgrades are more than passenger convenience improvements; they help make public transport usable by a wider section of the community. Step-free access can determine whether a station is practical for people with mobility needs, luggage, prams or temporary injuries.

For heritage and smaller regional stations, delivering accessibility improvements can be technically and logistically complex. Existing layouts may have limited space, nearby roads may be narrow and works often need to be planned around live railway operations.

According to Network Rail, the Tenby project illustrates how targeted infrastructure works can deliver wider public benefit. The company says the new pedestrian bridge with step-free access will provide easier, safer and more independent access to the railway, helping the station better serve the town and surrounding area.

Although the temporary closures may cause short-term disruption, the works are expected to deliver a more accessible railway station and a more inclusive transport link for Pembrokeshire.