Work on a £3.5m revamp of Barry Station has commenced.
As part of the investment by Network Rail and the Welsh Government, through the Access to All programme, for the first time passengers will have step-free access across platforms two and three with a new footbridge being installed in place of the old one.
Work will be completed by next summer with the train station remaining open to passengers throughout the work and rail services will not be affected.
Bill Kelly, Wales and Borders route director for Network Rail, said: "Making Barry Station fully accessible for the first time ever will make a huge difference for passengers and improve their experience of the station.
“Step-free access benefits everyone, people with health conditions or impairments, people with children, heavy luggage or shopping and some older people.
“It’s also good for the economy and means fewer car journeys, less congestion and carbon emissions.
“I would like to thank everyone for their patience while we carry out these upgrades.”
Chief executive of the Welsh Government’s transport body Transport for Wales, James Price, said: “We’re fully committed to building a fully accessible rail network for Wales and the Borders and improving accessibility at stations is a key part of this.
“We’re proud to be working collaboratively with Network Rail on improving the accessibility at Barry, and we’re looking forward to working together to develop more schemes throughout the Wales and Borders network in the years ahead.”
UK Government Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris, said: “It is fantastic that the major upgrades for Barry station will make the station accessible for the first time.
“As we build back fairer, it is crucial that passengers are put first and that our network is inclusive for all users.”
