Transport secretary ‘doesn’t know’ if Newport rail link will happen - MP

6:20pm Tuesday 17th July 2012 in News

NO ANSWER ON NEWPORT: Transport secretary Justine Greening NO ANSWER ON NEWPORT: Transport secretary Justine Greening

A NEWPORT MP said transport secretary Justine Greening did not know the answer to a question on whether this week's announcement to electrify the Ebbw Valley line meant trains could run to Newport.

Paul Flynn asked in the Commons whether the announcement means the Ebbw Vale line could be modernised so trains could run into the heart of Newport.

"That is a very good point," said Ms Greening. "The electrification will open up a range of possibilities."

She was interrupted, and added: "I can hear honourable members on the opposition benches chuntering".

Mr Flynn later tweeted: "Do rail plans include investment in the Ebbw Vale line to allow trains direct... [to] Newport? Justine Greening doesn't know."

Comments(6)

Manley says...
7:00pm Tue 17 Jul 12

It would be perverse to electrify the line but not allow trains to run into Newport. Frankly the money would be better spent just doing the necessary track upgrading to allow trains to run to Newport and not doing the electrification - just running a diesel shuttle from Newport.

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PontyPeter says...
7:14pm Tue 17 Jul 12

The running of an hourly train service to Newport (and Cardiff) isn't dependent on the line being electrified, it requires more of the line up the valley being dubbled. If this work isn't done BEFORE electrification, and then included in the electrification upgrade, it will never be done.

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PontyPeter says...
7:19pm Tue 17 Jul 12

PS. Pardon my typo - that should have been "doubled".

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RPRisca says...
9:10pm Tue 17 Jul 12

Agree with PontyPeter - the work to double the track between Crosskeys and Llanhilleth, or at least provide the proposed loop at Llanhilleth, is what's needed, and needed before the wires and masts are installed! There will be all sorts of excuses not to do it afterwards if it isn't.
And the Newport service has to be first, before an additional service to Cardiff, however compelling certain MPs, AMs and the Welsh Government may think.

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Owain Vaughan says...
9:58am Wed 18 Jul 12

Agree with all the above. I expect the wires to go up between Gaer Junction and Park Junction in any case as it can be used as a diversionary route.

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JE Charles says...
11:54am Wed 18 Jul 12

The extra track and additional stations need to be put in place now to avoid nugatory expenditure to do it after electrification. WG had poor advice on the first phase of the Ebbw Vale re-opening; laying the extra section of double track then would have been a lot less expensive than working on a live railway.

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