Newport Railway Station, South Wales

I had to make a deposit at my bank and chose Newport, which is the second closest. I had a wander round and chose this landmark as a blip.

Newport railway station (Welsh: Casnewydd) is the third-busiest railway station in Wales (after Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street), situated in Newport city centre.

In 2007, The Welsh Assembly Government and Network Rail agreed a £20 million makeover for the station that provided two new concourses, a second pedestrian bridge over the tracks. There are 4 platforms.

In 2009, the new concourse opened (see blip photo). The development was criticised by RAIL magazine columnist Barry Doe for being at the wrong end of the station, a lack of seating and generally poor design. Arriva Trains Wales also expressed concern about a leaking roof, an inadequate customer service area and insufficient ticket gates. Network Rail said the roof was fixed in mid-May 2011, but leaks were reported by a journalist later that month. In 2013 it was reported that the roof was still leaking!

In the land of rain, you need a good roof!