Llanelli station set for £multi‑million transport hub after councillors approve plans

The multimodal interchange will be built on land south of the station, where Great Western Crescent, Copperworks Road, Station Road and Trinity Terrace meet. Planning officers told the committee the current layout offers little in the way of onward travel and suffers from a lack of formal parking, with buses, taxis, cars and pedestrians competing for space.

What’s planned

The approved scheme will introduce a one‑way internal road layout with defined lanes for buses and taxis, 30 marked parking bays — three with electric charging points — and a dedicated taxi rank. Covered bus shelters will sit outside the station entrance, while new pedestrian crossings, raised tables and shared‑use paths will give walkers and cyclists safer routes.

Cycle parking for 22 bikes, rain gardens and compensatory tree planting are also promised as part of the council’s green infrastructure plan.

Artist’s impression of the proposed Llanelli Multi‑Modal Interchange showing new bus stops with green‑roof shelters, redesigned car park with EV charging bays, and improved pedestrian crossings south of the railway station.
(Image: Carmarthenshire Council)

Committee reaction

The application was approved at Carmarthenshire Council’s planning committee on December 16. Members backed the scheme after hearing it would create a safer, clearer interchange and support wider regeneration.

Cllr Terry Davies, Tyisha ward, told the meeting:

“This is an exciting improvement for the area, making the station a proper gateway again.”

Cllr Michael Thomas, Pembrey ward, said:

“It’s a really good development that will benefit travellers across the line.”

Cllr Russell Sparks added:

“It’s a wonderful scheme — and with Christmas in mind, one more gift for Llanelli from this Plaid‑led council.”

Flood safeguards and wider context

The site lies within defended flood zones 2 and 3. Natural Resources Wales raised no objection, but required drainage conditions and flood response planning.

The hub has been developed with Network Rail and Transport for Wales, and officers said it will act as a gateway linking the town centre with strategic projects such as the £200m Pentre Awel health and leisure development at Delta Lakes.

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£6.3m accessibility upgrade officially opened at Llanelli Station

The investment, funded through the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme and delivered by Network Rail, Transport for Wales and the Welsh Government, was celebrated at a community event attended by Dame Nia Griffith MP, Llanelli Town Mayor Cllr J.E. Jones, and members of TfW’s Accessibility and Inclusion Panel.

The new facilities mean disabled passengers, parents with pushchairs and travellers with heavy luggage no longer have to trek around the level crossing to reach both platforms. The old footbridge has been removed, with the new structure offering lifts, improved ramps, better lighting, CCTV and tactile paving along the platform edges.

Community members and officials gather at Llanelli Station to celebrate the launch of its new accessibility features.
(Image: Network Rail)The newly opened lift and enclosed bridge at Llanelli Station offer safer, step-free access for all passengers.
(Image: Network Rail)Passengers test the new lift at Llanelli Station, designed to improve access for wheelchair users and those with mobility needs.
(Image: Network Rail)A sleek new footbridge with lift access now connects both platforms at Llanelli Station — part of a £6.3m accessibility upgrade.
(Image: Network Rail)

Kevin Collins, Project Director for Network Rail Wales & Western, said:

“We’re delighted to unveil these fantastic new lifts and the footbridge for passengers in Llanelli — improvements that have made the station more welcoming and significantly more accessible for everyone who uses it.”

Adrian Carrington, Head of Station Infrastructure at Transport for Wales, said:

“Llanelli is an important station to the Wales and Borders network and serves up to 400,000 passengers a year. The new bridge and lift facilities will enhance accessibility and create opportunities for Llanelli and the surrounding communities.”

Dame Nia Griffith MP added:

“It’s so important we now have lifts, which means that people with disabilities, parents with pushchairs and passengers with heavy luggage can access both platforms without trekking around the level crossing. I’m now keen to see Llanelli benefit from further improvements to train services as the Swansea Bay Metro project takes shape.”

Amanda Say, speaking for TfW’s Accessibility and Inclusion Panel, said:

“This project has made the station much safer by eliminating the need to use a level crossing to travel between platforms. It will greatly benefit all passengers, especially people with disabilities.”

The official opening marks a major milestone for Llanelli, but rail bosses say the work doesn’t stop here. Next up is Tenby station, where new accessible facilities are due to be delivered by December 2026.

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New images reveal detail of Llanelli’s proposed transport hub as plans formally submitted

A greener, safer gateway

The full planning application, prepared by AtkinsRéalis, sets out how the southern side of the station would be transformed into a modern transport hub. The latest drawings show two new bus stops with cantilevered shelters topped by green roofs, real‑time passenger information boards, and a redesigned car park with 40 spaces, including bays for disabled users, motorbikes and electric vehicles.

A new 2‑metre wide footway would run through the site, linking Copperworks Road and Station Road, while a series of raised and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings are planned to make it easier and safer to move between the station, bus stops and surrounding streets. Cycle users would benefit from a 22‑space covered bike shelter, also designed with a green roof.

Landscaping is a key part of the design, with existing poor‑quality scrub and hedgerow replaced by semi‑mature tree planting to screen the site from nearby homes. The plans also include bioretention areas to manage surface water and improve biodiversity.

Artist’s impression of the proposed Llanelli Multi‑Modal Interchange showing new bus stops with green‑roof shelters, redesigned car park with EV charging bays, and improved pedestrian crossings south of the railway station.Artist’s impression of the proposed Llanelli Multi‑Modal Interchange showing new bus stops with green‑roof shelters, redesigned car park with EV charging bays, and improved pedestrian crossings south of the railway station.

Public backing

The consultation report shows that 88% of respondents believed Llanelli would benefit from the interchange, with more than four in five saying it would encourage them to use public transport more often.

One resident commented that the hub would “finally bring buses and trains together in one place,” while another said it would “make the station feel like a proper gateway to the town rather than a back entrance.”

Concerns were raised about whether the bus facilities would be fully used, given the current limited services on Station Road. The council’s response was that the interchange is designed for future growth, particularly with developments such as Pentre Awel expected to increase demand.

Other feedback led to changes in the final design: pedestrian crossings were revised, cycle shelters relocated, and the dimensions of disabled and EV bays adjusted.

Part of a wider regeneration picture

The interchange is not being developed in isolation. It is intended to complement the £200m Pentre Awel wellness and life science village, which opened its first phase earlier this year. The landmark development on Llanelli’s coastline is expected to create around 2,000 jobs and attract thousands of visitors, making improved transport links essential.

It also ties into Carmarthenshire Council’s new town centre masterplans for Llanelli, Ammanford and Carmarthen, which set out how empty buildings will be brought back into use, new homes created, and public spaces improved. The council has been clear that better transport connectivity is central to making town centres more vibrant and accessible.

Closer to the station itself, the demolition of the Four Tys housing blocks in Tyisha has now been completed, paving the way for a new mixed‑use development with modern housing, community facilities and green space. The interchange is seen as a vital link in reconnecting Tyisha with the town centre and wider region.

“Enhancing access to sustainable transport”

Cllr Edward Thomas, Carmarthenshire’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure, said earlier this year:

“We are looking for feedback to help shape plans for Llanelli Multi‑Modal Interchange to ensure that we are providing an appropriate solution that enhances access to more sustainable transport opportunities to support Llanelli into the future.”

Next steps

If approved, the interchange would be built in phases alongside the existing station, with construction carefully managed to minimise disruption. The council says the project is a vital part of its strategy to reduce car dependency, improve access to jobs and education, and support the wider regeneration of Llanelli.

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