The historic UK town that's desperate to reopen old railway station to attract tourists

A little historic town in the UK is urging the authorities to reopen an old train station to attract more tourists to its famous Roman heritage sites. Located on the east side of Newport, in South Wales, Caerleon is a small town known as a gem for history lovers.

Caerleon was once the site of Isca Augusta, a major Roman fortress and headquarters of the Second Augustan Legion. It was one of only three permanent legionary bases in Roman Britain. The town is home to the Roman Amphitheatre which is one of the best-preserved in the UK, capable of seating around 6,000 spectators. However, locals now want more facilities in the town so as to attract more visitors.

In a recent council meeting, the residents suggested reopening an old railway station due to a traffic nightmare. They said it could help ease "chronic" congestion and attract more visitors.

The old station at Caerleon in east Newport was closed to passengers in 1962. However, it still retains key infrastructure, said Cllr Stephen Cocks.

Newport City Council has requested that the town be considered in national plans to revamp public transport which includes constructing a series of new stations along the south Wales main line, reports Wales Online.

Mr Cocks told a council meeting of the overwhelming public support for the project, saying it "almost sounds like a North Korean election result".

Council leader Cllr Dimitri Batrouni also supported the idea and said it is a "no-brainer", particularly given the town's roads can become "very busy" during peak times.

The proposal to establish a railway station in Caerleon has sparked strong support and debate among Newport councillors. Advocates argue that a station would provide vital infrastructure to accommodate the town's current population and future growth, especially in light of traffic congestion during peak times.

The Burns Commission's recommendations-developed after the cancellation of the M4 relief road-include plans for five new stations along the main line, three of which are in Newport.

While the council welcomed these proposals as a major investment in regional connectivity, it has formally requested that Caerleon be considered in future developments.

Councillor Rhian Howells described Caerleon as one of Newport's "jewels in the crown," saying a rail link would offer a significant boost to the area.

However, opposition leader Councillor Matthew Evans voiced doubts about the station's impact on motorway congestion, insisting that only a new relief road could resolve the issue. Though his group supported the motion, he warned against expecting swift progress, citing delays in reopening the Newport-Ebbw Vale line.

In contrast, Caerleon councillor Jason Hughes acknowledged the long-standing campaign for a station and urged persistence, noting that traffic problems in the town are longstanding and a station could be key to attracting visitors. Councillor Cocks praised the efforts of TRACS (Towards Restoring A Caerleon Station) and emphasised that securing the city council's backing is crucial for the project's advancement.