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Monday 31 Oct 2022

Network Rail thanks passengers and communities for their patience as Ebbw Vale line reopens

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

Network Rail has this morning reopened the Ebbw Vale line again to passenger trains after a nine-day closure. 

Teams of staff worked approx. 10,000 hours, day and night, between 22 and 30 October to carry out major upgrades along the entire line – which will enable an hourly service between Ebbw Vale and Newport, once the entire project is complete.  

At Newbridge station, a rail bridge over Bridge Street was replaced using a 650-tonne crane; new track was installed, and platform extensions were carried out.  

South of Newbridge station, a 40m x 20m retaining wall next to Riverside Park was taken down with approx. 250 lorry loads of spoil removed before the embankment was regraded. Engineers then installed 200m of brand-new track. 

At Llanhilleth station, teams worked hard to install the foundations of the new platform on the southern end of the station.  

Along the line, 53km of signalling cable was also installed as well as four trackside cabinets which will house new signalling equipment next to the railway. 

The project team tried to keep disruption to a minimum overnight by using battery powered generators at the site compounds.  

Tom Edwards, Project Manager at Network Rail, said: “We would like to thank passengers and the local communities along the line for their patience as we delivered this work.  

“We know there is never a right time to carry out work of this nature but closing the line and Bridge Street road for a period of nine-days has allowed our contractors unlimited access to the railway to complete a significant amount of work.” 

This £70m project has been funded by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council via a loan from the Welsh Government. The Department for Transport and Network Rail will then provide a further £17m of funding to deliver a signalling upgrade.  

Network Rail teams will continue to carry out work on the Ebbw Vale line until late into summer 2023. Dates of future closures of the line will be provided to passengers closer to the date.