Media centre

Friday 10 Nov 2023

Railway engineers restore war memorials on the Ebbw Vale line ahead of Remembrance Sunday

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Network Rail engineers teamed up with colleagues from contractors AmcoGiffen to clean and restore two war memorials in Llanhilleth and Newbridge on the Ebbw Vale line ahead of Remembrance Sunday this weekend.

Working closely with Newbridge Royal British Legion and volunteers from Llanhilleth, the railway team has cleaned and repaired both memorials, with the surrounding areas cleared of any weeds. They also built temporary ramps and installed some paving blocks to make the memorials more accessible.

As part of the ongoing upgrade work on the Ebbw Vale line, railway colleagues have been spending time in the towns served by the line to foster closer relationships and give something back to the communities.

Network Rail staff visited Newbridge and Llanhilleth recently alongside colleagues from Transport for Wales to carry out a litter pick around the station and another clean-up has been planned for next week.

Alongside community clean-up events, rail staff have also been visiting local schools to speak with students. This week marked the end of a three-week engagement programme to raise awareness of the dangers associated with the railway, with a number of schools visited between Ebbw Vale and Newport.

During the October half-term holiday, Network Rail worked with education and creative specialist company, Bollo to engage with passengers on the Ebbw Vale line to promote railway safety, targeting key locations including stations, level crossings, retail parks, rugby clubs and skate parks.

Nick Millington, Network Rail’s route director for Wales and Borders, said: “I’m pleased that our team has worked alongside AmcoGiffen to restore the war memorials at Llanhilleth and Newbridge in time for Remembrance Sunday this weekend.

“Our community outreach projects are particularly special, fostering closer ties with the people we serve and demonstrating the positive social value of the railway.

“Working with the communities along the Ebbw Vale line has been very rewarding for our teams and we’re happy that we’ve been able to support the great work of Newbridge Royal British Legion and the war memorial volunteers in Llanhilleth.”

AmcoGiffen project director Jeff Roberts, said: “AmcoGiffen is delighted to be able to support the communities of Llanhilleth and Newbridge while we carry out significant work at stations in the towns as part of the Ebbw Vale Enhancement Programme.

“We’re fully committed to delivering excellence both in our projects and in social value aiming to make a lasting positive impact by putting our skills and capabilities to their best use like we have here.”

Councillor Gary Johnson of Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: “On behalf of Newbridge Royal British Legion, I would like to thank Network Rail and AmcoGiffen for a wonderful job of cleaning our Cenotaph and the area around it, it is looking ready for our remembrance service on Sunday.

“Our thanks go to the team of guys who did this, we are well pleased with the work they are doing in our community.”

Robert Challenger, one of the war memorial custodians in Llanhilleth, said: “Myself and the other custodians, Pam Hopkins MBE and the Reverend Viv Nichols, are delighted with the work carried out at our war memorial; it will make Sunday very special.

"The teams were professional, courteous and respectful throughout. I am sure that our veterans and community would like to join us in saying a big thank you to all involved.”