CALLS for action over the Ebbw Vale rail link were renewed yesterday after statistics revealed more train journeys were made from Blaenau Gwent to Cardiff than Newport.

The Welsh Government transport statistics showed that 122,000 journeys took place from the Valleys county to the capital in 2009/10 – compared to 2,900 to Newport stations where there is no direct link.

Meanwhile it has emerged that a Newport AM is to meet with the transport minister Carl Sargeant next Wednesday to push for a passenger link between Ebbw Vale and Newport.

The Argus has campaigned for a passenger rail link between Newport and Ebbw Vale for a decade.

Jocelyn Davies, AM for Plaid Cyrmu in South East Wales, said the figures showed the potential of a link for attracting people to Newport: "I think it is only fair for all concerned that the current minister responsible makes it clear whether the extension of the link to Newport is a priority or not."

Tory South Wales East AM Mohammad Asghar said: "Newport is missing out on vast numbers who would work and socialise in the city because the rail infrastructure doesn’t exist."

John Griffiths, Newport East AM and the environment minister, said: "There’s little doubt that the rail link to Cardiff has resulted in people from the Ebbw Vale area going to Cardiff rather than Newport."

Rosemary Butler, Newport West AM and National Assembly presiding officer, is set to meet transport minister Carl Sargeant next Wednesday to push for the link, her spokeswoman said.

Her spokeswoman said the meeting came about after she sent the minister a letter on the issue asking when passenger trains from Ebbw Vale and Newport were likely to come to fruition.

A Welsh Government spokesman said the minister is currently prioritising its National Transport Plan, which includes consideration of the rail link, and a rescheduled delivery plan is set to be published this Autumn.