Network Rail has today (Monday 4 December) completed its upgrade of the Ebbw Vale line, and will increase train services between Ebbw Vale Town and Newport.
The line reopened this morning, after being closed for nineteen days during which workers from Network Rail, Siemens and Amco Giffen worked night and day to complete the final stage of the two-year project.
During the recent closure, workers completed:
- the final 1.5 km of track upgrades between Crosskeys and Crumlin, completing a seven-mile loop for trains to pass between Crosskeys and Aberbeeg;
- an additional platform each at Newbridge and Llanhilleth stations;
- a footbridge with lifts at Llanhilleth making the station fully accessible;
- a new signalling system around the Park Junction area to make railway journeys more reliable.
The upgrade of the Ebbw Vale line forms part of a major investment to provide new rail services to Newport. Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council provided seventy million pounds funding via a loan from the Welsh Government for track and station enhancements, and the Department for Transport and Network Rail gave an additional twenty-two million pounds for signalling upgrades and the replacement of Crumlin River bridge.
The project has also involved widening and replacing the railway bridge over Bridge Street, Newbridge, in 2022, and significantly strengthening embankments along the line.
The Ebbw Vale line had previously reopened in 2008 after being closed for forty years. Six years later, in 2014, a new station opened at Pye Corner serving the southern end of the line . Then, in 2015, the railway was extended from Ebbw Vale Parkway to a new station at Ebbw Vale Town, with around 1.5miles of new track laid.
The completion of this work and the upcoming introduction of the new service between Ebbw Vale and Newport underpins Welsh Government's long-standing commitments to enhancing rail services along the valley. This will open up jobs, training and leisure opportunities to people in the communities along the line.
Network Rail's route director for Wales and Borders Nick Millington said: “It is brilliant news for passengers and communities that Ebbw Vale upgrade is now complete as it will transform how people travel.
“It will open up jobs, training and leisure opportunities for people living in the area and will encourage more people to use public transport, supporting our decarbonisation aims in Wales.
“I'd also like to thank passengers and communities for their patience while we completed this upgrade and remind people that with new services being introduced soon they should take extra care at level crossings.”
Welsh Government minister for climate change Julie James said: “I am delighted that work to improve the line to enable a direct service between Ebbw Vale and Newport has been successfully completed on time.
“This project is another great example of proactive and productive joint working between ourselves, local government and the rail industry.
“The new rail services will help Blaenau Gwent deliver its economic development ambitions and provide improved access to a range of opportunities for local people along the line.”
Alexia Course, chief commercial officer at Transport for Wales, said: “This project is a fantastic example of rail industry partners in Wales working together with local authorities and the Welsh and UK Governments to deliver significant improvements for customers in our communities.
“With improved accessibility and new services starting soon, it is delivering real change for people living along the Ebbw Vale line.”
Councillor John Morgan, Cabinet member, Place and regeneration and economic development at Blaenau Gwent Council said: “I am pleased that the work to improve the rail service is now complete. Working with our partners in Welsh Government, Network Rail and Transport for Wales to enhance the Ebbw Valley rail link to improve public transport is top priority for the Council.
“I have no doubt that a more frequent service will improve opportunities for inward investment, access to employment both within and outside of the local area and improves public transport for everyone in Blaenau Gwent. It also makes it easier for those people looking to make connections as they travel to other destinations like Bristol and Heathrow airports.”
Thank Beeching and be conservative government who closed all the railways and lifted the lines now it’s costing billions to replace what we already had…
A few months ago my wife and I caught the train from Abergavenny to Liverpool, changing at Chester. The train was chocker block and had only 2 carriages, we had to stand all the way to Chester, there was no guard, god help us all if there had been an accident. When the train stopped each time everyone just piled in. As soon as we changed trains in Chester there were plenty of empty seats, it wasn’t Transport for Wales then! You can upgrade lines, travel to new areas, build new stations, but without more carriages and better management then it won’t work. It just seems to me that every idea that Cardiff come up with isn’t thought out properly, they’re not the brightest group of people are they?!
I think cwm Ebbw vale should have a train station we the only place on the journey that hasn’t got a station
Abercarn, Cwmcarn and Abertillery have no stations, either. It’s a complete pain to get onto the bypass in the morning to drive to the station as there’s no viable public transport option. For a service which should have made things better, I’m struggling to see how…
Ive had to put up with years of noise and disruprion thanks to the Welsh Government therefore Cwm demands an airport! C’mon George Humphries, get your finger out of your….. and actually do something useful.
Aberbeeg, Crumlin, Abercarn, Cwmcarn if you stopped at every village it would double the journey time.
Great job at the station at newbridge all we need now are trains that run on time with more then 2 carriages
4 would be nice
92 million pounds really…..
What is going on in this country….
In return the service is now going to Newport when this was achievable prior to spending £1 of that 92million….
This service will increase, that is a plus point but TFW can hardly run a service on this line and many others without improving capacity …
The new trains are late or already broken down due to failed wheels
15 years ago there was a real change on this forgotten line for a 3rd of today’s costs it will be interesting how TFW will maintain that success as they are abysmal at running trains and a transport service for Wales.
Same day as TfW saying sorry for cancelled trains as they had not enough trains – don’t they think trains are rather essential? Transport for Wales like everything under Welsh Labour a farce & not fit for purpose!
I agree with Robert Bishop Abertillery is the one left out
Well said1
I find it more than reasonable
Should have been up and running when the Cardiff link opened, Welsh Labour reneged on their promise. 😡
The spur line to Abertillery still not delivered despite being promised many years ago.
Abertillery the town that time forgot.
No investment no hope.
Thanks for nothing Welsh government and I mean that literally.
Why not a station at Crumlin
Fantastic, well done, should never closed in the first place.
Many occasions only 2 carriages at prime times,rammed and uncomfortable,paying for the pleasure,4 carriages prime time 2 othertimes,its not rocket science
This is a great service , I use regularly well done and thanks!
Completely disagree.
We need more and better funding for rail routes. Especially to reconnect communties back onto the network as happened here.
What a waste of time and money when you cannot run a good service at a fair price it’s much over priced
Drive then. Simple.
£8 odd for a return ticket to Cardiff.
Always thought that was a very reasonable price ??
Free parking too.
Hardly overpriced really is it ?