Calls for improved Ebbw valley service in wake of electrification plans (From South Wales Argus)
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Calls for improved Ebbw valley service in wake of electrification plans
3:10pm Monday 16th July 2012 in Gwent news
Calls for improved Ebbw valley service in wake of electrification plans
CALLS were made for a half hourly service from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff today by a Valleys MP.
Welsh politicians welcomed today’s announcement by transport minister Justine Greening of plans to electrify Wales's Valleys Lines including the Ebbw Valley line by 2019.
The move carries the promise of slashing journey times and boosting capacity for passengers.
Nick Smith, Blaenau Gwent MP, said a campaign must now start to improve frequency on the line, and said the priority was an improved service to Cardiff.
Mr Smith said the move will "shorten rail journeys" and lead to improved track and signal infrastructure.
"We have got to campaign for improved frequency. When we surveyed passengers on the line a couple of months ago they said they wanted a half hour service or better," he said.
He said Network Rail needed to look at redoubling all or some of the Ebbw Vale line - which would allow trains to pass each other on what is currently a single track.
"Over time I would like to see a 15 minute service from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff. Our next ambition has got to be a half hourly to Cardiff," he said.
He said he would like to see services from Newport and Bristol on the line. However he added: "The priority is for improved services to Cardiff."
Alun Davies, Blaneau Gwent AM, said it was excellent news for Ebbw Vale and Blaenau Gwent.
He said: “We need to now focus on extending the service to the centre of Ebbw Vale and to include Abertillery to ensure greater rail capacity and connectivity.”
Carl Sargeant, Welsh government transport minister, said: "Electrification of the Valley Lines offers the opportunity for a step change in mobility and connectivity to employment centres for our Valleys communities, as well as a larger employment catchment area for businesses looking to invest in the region."
Comments(14)
MERoden
says...
5:03pm Mon 16 Jul 12
The Ebbw Vale to Newport rail connection is exactly what we need. People who live in Rogerstone are forced to get a bus into Newport from Rogerstone Train Station, which is crazy. A proper train service is what is needed.
Mr Stuart Parry
says...
8:00pm Mon 16 Jul 12
mer8071
says...
8:06pm Mon 16 Jul 12
westmon
says...
7:57am Tue 17 Jul 12
Owain Vaughan
says...
9:37am Tue 17 Jul 12
westmon wrote:Who are you to question what other people want to do? Why should people be forced off a train and onto a bus? It's exactly this sort of pointlessly negative attitude that got us to this ridiculous situation in the first place!
Why on earth would people want to go to Newport. if they need to get to Newport from Ebbw Vale get off in Cross Keys . and catch a bus which leaves every 7 minutes from there.
Valley-Dragon
says...
10:12am Tue 17 Jul 12
Having visited the town recently for the Big Splash festival I would question what there is to attract people to catch a train to Newport town centre rather than go to Cardiff. Perhaps the only two things are the few jobs available in Newport and the chance to catch a connecting train to England.
There certainly seems to be more appetite for improved Cardiff trains than a Newport train from people in my community.
Bridgeboy
says...
12:02pm Tue 17 Jul 12
chelsea fatboy
says...
3:56pm Tue 17 Jul 12
PontyPeter
says...
7:25pm Tue 17 Jul 12
westmon
says...
8:46pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Bridgeboy
says...
9:34pm Tue 17 Jul 12
Howie'
says...
12:13am Wed 18 Jul 12
Bridgeboy wrote:They didn't want to know at the start and now losing out big style.
Must argee with Valley Dragon. I have no appetite for a train service to Newport . It's simple there is nothing in Newport that would stop any train use going to Cardiff.. Newport must face up to facts. They didn't want to know at the start and now losing out big style. Just compare your so called shopping street to the several in cardiff.
At the start of what?
Regionalist
says...
10:27am Mon 23 Jul 12
Valley-Dragon wrote:Well you said it. Jobs! More people from Islwyn and Blaenau Gwent commute into Newport to work every day than do to Cardiff. Anyone who thinks Cardiff is the be all and end all to our problems in the Valleys is as big a moron as this MP who is clearly trying to cash in on toeing the party line that Cardiff is big and economically strong enough to help Wales get back on it's feet. It isn't, and never has been. The WG perpetuating this myth that Cardiff is capable of providing jobs to the Valleys is nonsense, all they want is to fleece us of our cash and shaft Newport in the process. Our functional links are to Newport and the WG meddling to serve their Cardiff cronies is ruining Gwent.
As someone who regularly uses this line, I would much rather see more frequent trains to cardiff than a train to Newport. Having visited the town recently for the Big Splash festival I would question what there is to attract people to catch a train to Newport town centre rather than go to Cardiff. Perhaps the only two things are the few jobs available in Newport and the chance to catch a connecting train to England. There certainly seems to be more appetite for improved Cardiff trains than a Newport train from people in my community.
Owain Vaughan says...
3:32pm Mon 16 Jul 12