BLAENAU Gwent AM Alun Davies says he will continue to push for an Abertillery train station, but developments have to be made on the Ebbw Valley line before it can become a possibility.

Abertillery resident Anthony Partridge started a petition earlier this month to get a train station in the town after it was reported the Welsh government minister had earmarked funding for improvements to the Ebbw Valley line.

The petition has since gained more than 1,300 signatures but Mr Davies says other parts of the line must be developed before the Abertillery train station can be delivered.

He said: “The planned electrification of the (Ebbw Valley) line and the introduction of a passing loop to allow a more frequent service is just the latest significant investment we are making in Blaenau Gwent.

“As it stands the line could not support an additional service to Abertillery because of the time the train takes to run the course and there is nowhere for two trains to pass. That’s why we need to have a development plan for the line as a whole which will allow us to build the network into the future. Without electrification and the loop there could be no future development. The Abertillery link is part of SEWTA’s consultation document which is being considered by the Welsh Government and is by no means off the table.

“I have been and will continue to push for the Abertillery link and I support the people of the area who are campaigning for this proposal to come to fruition.”

However, Mr Partridge, 29, believes that actions would speak louder than words.

“What we need from Alun Davies is a definitive plan to get it built instead of a list of hurdles preventing that being done,” he said. “From what he has said there doesn’t seem to be a plan in place at all.

“For the Assembly to only be considering Sewta’s plan for the link to Abertillery, it highlights the fact that it is by no means a given. The electorate have voiced their feelings by way of a petition. We appreciate that it might not be as straight forward as just building it but until there is a definitive plan for all to see we will keep up the momentum of the campaign.”

Sign the petition by visiting epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/58786