THE lack of a direct link between Newport and Ebbw Vale is “the subject of a great deal of frustration”, an AM has said.

Currently only one train an hour runs on the Ebbw Vale line and goes to Cardiff, by-passing Newport altogether.

Although the Welsh Government announced in 2015 the single track would be upgraded to two lines, meaning trains could run in both directions simultaneously, work stopped in December 2016.

Newport East AM John Griffiths said the lack of a direct link had been “the subject of a great deal of frustration for quite some time in my area”. He was one of those who supported the South Wales Argus Back on Track campaign when it launched in 2002.

The campaign called for the line to re-open at the same time as the line to Cardiff but there has been no progress since.

Addressing transport and economy secretary Ken Skates he asked: “It’s long been eagerly awaited.

“I wonder if you can provide any further information on when we can expect that link to be established and its continuing importance, I hope, to Welsh Government reflecting the views of local people.”

The current contract for running the Wales and Borders franchise will end in October. The new contract will include the development of the South Wales Metro, with the winning bidder to be announced imminently.

Mr Skates said: “I’ll have more to say with regard to the Ebbw link and the potential to stop at Newport when we announce the preferred franchise operator and development partner and when we take forward the Metro planning.”

In 2002 the Argus launched a campaign - Get us Back on Track - which won cross-party support, calling for the line to be re-opened. Editor Nicole Garnon is to relaunch the campaign in the light of the fact nothing has happened in the intervening years.

Mr Griffiths also quizzed Mr Skates about rail services to Bristol saying current services “leave much to be desired in terms of overcrowded trains and reliability, problems with cancellation, the general quality of the rolling stock, and indeed the time that journeys take”.

Mr Skates said he had written to the UK Government calling for franchise arrangements around cross-border rail services to be reviewed.

Arriva Trains Wales has run the Wales and Borders franchise for the past 15 years, but pulled out of the running to continue running the service in February. Abellio Rail Cymru also scrapped a bid, leaving two remaining bidders – French joint venture KeolisAmey and Hong Kong-based MTR Corporation.