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Friday 16 Jun 2023

Passengers along Ebbw Vale line thanked for their patience as line reopens following latest stage of multi-million-pound transformation

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

Network Rail extends thank you to passengers and local communities after 19-day closure of the railway between Cardiff Central and Ebbw Vale Town.  

Network Rail engineers, together with contractors from Amco Giffen, Siemens and its own internal construction services team, worked day and night since Wednesday 24 May, to continue the transformation of the Ebbw Vale line. 

This £70m major project has been funded by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council via a loan from the Welsh Government. The Department for Transport and Network Rail are providing a further £17m to deliver signalling upgrade and renewal work.   

The work this Spring included the continued construction of two new platforms at Newbridge and Llanhilleth stations (one at each station), the installation of new signal posts, regrading and stabilising of an embankment, and track work in various locations along the line.   

Part of a new access ramp and waiting shelter was constructed at Newbridge station while the lift mechanism and motor rooms were installed at Llanhilleth station.  

This block of work concluded on Monday 12th June with five more Sunday day closures throughout June and July. 

Nick Millington, route director for Wales and the Borders said: “I would like to personally thank passengers and local communities for their ongoing patience throughout this work. 

“We know there is never a good time to close sections of the railway, but it is the quickest and safest way to carry out the huge volumes of work required for this major project. 

“Once complete, passengers will benefit from a direct link to Newport which will provide better access to employment opportunities, leisure and training, as well as open up rail travel to Bristol, the midlands and London.” 

Jan Chaudhry-Van der Velde, Chief Operations Officer at Transport for Wales said: “The multi-million-pound investment into the Ebbw Vale line will allow us to run more frequent and more reliable services in the near future, bringing significant benefits to our customers.   

“We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience while this vital work is took place.”