Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change
A new rail service between Ebbw Vale and Newport has begun thanks to £70m of investment from the Welsh Government.
Rail infrastructure investment is the responsibility of the UK Government, but as a mark of our commitment to improving rail services across Wales, we have stepped in to deliver the track and station enhancements which will allow an hourly train service between Ebbw Vale Town and Newport, in addition to the existing hourly service to Cardiff.
The doubling of the frequency of trains will make a difference to all the communities along the route.
We have a long history of investing in rail services in the Ebbw Valley with the initial reopening of the line in 2008, the new station at Pye Corner in 2014 and the extension of the line to Ebbw Vale Town in 2015.
The delivery of the package of infrastructure upgrades has demonstrated excellent joint working between Welsh Government, Blaenau Gwent Council, Network Rail and Transport for Wales. The work has been enabled by Network Rail investment in signalling upgrades and bridge replacement works.
Working together, the infrastructure upgrades have been completed on time and within budget. I’d like to place on record my thanks to Blaenau Gwent Council, Network Rail and Transport for Wales.