Passengers reminded to check before they travel as major upgrade work on the Ebbw Vale line continues: Ebbw Vale Line investment - Llanhilleth station

Wednesday 12 Oct 2022

Passengers reminded to check before they travel as major upgrade work on the Ebbw Vale line continues

Region & Route:
Wales & Western: Wales & Borders
| Wales & Western

The line will be closed for nine days, from Saturday 22 October, as Network Rail engineers deliver enhancements to stations and track upgrades - making way for increased rail services for passengers in the future.  

The multi-million-pound upgrades will see Network Rail’s team of engineers working day and night to extend platforms at Llanhilleth and Newbridge stations, replace and install a new railway bridge at Newbridge, and renew more than half a kilometre of track near Crosskeys station. 

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council have provided the £70m funding for the scheme, 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 signaling upgrade.  

The line will be fully closed for nine days from Saturday 22 October to 30 October inclusive with no train services running. During this time, Transport for Wales (TfW) will provide a replacement bus service between Ebbw Vale Town and Cardiff Central and passengers are urged to check before travelling at www.tfw.wales or on the mobile app.  

There will also be a full road closure on Bridge Street as engineers work to fully replace the railway bridge at Newbridge. Bridge Street will be closed from 23:00 on Friday 21 October to 05:00 on Monday 31 October with a fully signposted diversionary route in place.  

Following the October closure of the line, 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.  

Once the work is completed in 2023, Transport for Wales (TfW) plans to run a new hourly train service between Ebbw Vale and Newport in addition to the current hourly service between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff. This will help provide increased access to jobs, training and leisure opportunities to communities along the line.  

Nick Millington, interim route director at Network Rail Wales & Borders, said: “It’s fantastic to see the transformation of the Ebbw Vale line really take shape. This multi-million-pound investment will transform services on the line and really benefit the communities it serves.”  

“I would like to thank the local communities, in advance, for their patience while we safely carry out this work.” 

Jan Chaudhry-Van der Velde, Transport for Wales’ Chief Operations Officer, said: “We welcome this investment to upgrade the Ebbw Vale Line. The work to increase capacity on the line will allow us to run direct services between Ebbw Vale and Newport from 2023, as part of delivering the Welsh Government’s vision for the South Wales Metro.” 

Councillor Helen Cunningham, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Place at Blaenau Gwent Council, said: “I am pleased with the progress of the work to improve and upgrade Llanhilleth station as part of the major investment to transform the Ebbw Vale line between Newport and Ebbw Vale. I appreciate that Network Rail are doing everything to minimise disruption for passengers whilst carrying out the work and I am sure that passengers will see the benefit of an improved service and more reliable journeys in the future.” 

Councillor Julian Simmonds, Cabinet Member for Highways & Transportation at Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: “We are delighted to be working with our partners on these exciting improvements that will enhance Newbridge station and it make it fully accessible to all passengers for the first time. These improvements will help to support our Lower Ebbw and Sirhowy Valleys Masterplan which sets out the future development and regeneration opportunities to promote communities, strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for residents.”  

Councillor Laura Lacey, cabinet member for assets and infrastructure at Newport City Council, said: “It is great to see the progress being made by Network Rail to enhance the Ebbw Vale line. Whether it is increased access to jobs and social opportunities, or reducing carbon emissions through increased use of the line, better transport links will benefit both Newport and communities up and down the Gwent valleys.” 

Network Rail has carried out preparation work throughout the summer to reduce disruption as much as possible. The teams have also installed acoustic barriers around worksites to keep noise to a minimum for the surrounding communities.  

Notes to Editors

Notes to editor:  

The main activities Network Rail will carry out throughout the October blockade are as follows:  

  • Llanhilleth station – extending the existing platform in both directions and starting to build a new platform on the opposite side to the existing platform;  
  • Bridge Street bridge, Newbridge – taking the track off Bridge Street bridge, removing the bridge, installing a new bridge and reinstalling the track across the bridge. This will involve a road closure and a fully signposted diversionary route will be in place;  
  • Newbridge station – extending the existing platform and starting to build the a new platform on the opposite side to the existing platform;  
  • Newbridge retaining wall (next to Riverside Park, north of Coed Celynen Drive area) – removing the track, taking down the retaining wall, re-grading the embankment, removing spoil from the area and reinstalling the track;  
  • Crosskeys – Renewing approximately 520m of track north of Crosskeys station.  

The Ebbw Vale line reopened in 2008 after being closed for 40 years and was instantly popular with passengers.  

In 2014, a brand-new station at Pye Corner opened serving passengers at the southern end of the line and in 2015, approximately 1.5 miles of new track was laid to extend the railway from Ebbw Vale Parkway to a brand-new station at Ebbw Vale Town.  

Network Rail completed a £5 million renewal of the Ebbw River railway bridge in Crumlin. The railway bridge was restored to its original double track layout to prevent congestion and to help enable the Ebbw Vale Enhancement Scheme.  

Contact information

Passengers / community members
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Latest travel advice
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Journalists
Callum Jones
callum.jones2@networkrail.co.uk

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