It
is time for the Welsh Government to commit to completing the rail link from
Ebbw Vale into Newport and to think beyond simply connecting the valleys with
Cardiff Bay. We need to build in more connectivity to our rail network and also
to maximise the benefits of improvements to our railways by squeezing every
possible benefit from the investment of public money, especially in times of
austerity then the completion of the Ebbw Vale link into Newport needs to be
completed. The restoration of the rail link into Newport from the Ebbw Vale
line has an impact well beyond simply enabling passengers to travel to and from
Newport. Once completed the final stage of the long promised rail link would
enable commuters to travel to work in Newport, Bristol, and beyond without
having to drive or catch the train to Cardiff Central. The completion of the
rail link could make a significant impact on local rail services. At present
within Wales rail serves run between Merthyr and Bridgend via the Vale of
Glamorgan. There is no reason why it would not be possible for extra serves to
be run from between Hereford, Abergavenny and Ebbw vale, and Cheltenham via
Gloucester and Chepstow to Ebbw Vale, something that could add extra off peak
services for passengers.
Showing posts with label Ebbw Vale rail link. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ebbw Vale rail link. Show all posts
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Friday, 28 October 2011
NO MORE EXCUSES...
Once again there have been more calls for action in relation to finishing the Ebbw Vale line link into Newport. Fresh Welsh Government transport statistics have shown that some 122,000 journeys took place from the Valleys county to Cardiff (in 2009/2010) in comparison to 2,900 to Newport stations which has no direct link from the Ebbw Vale line.
The South Wales Argus, local people and politicians of every political hue have all been calling for a passenger rail link between Newport and Ebbw Vale for the last ten years. The new Labour run Welsh Government is currently prioritising its National Transport Plan, which apparently includes consideration of the rail link, and a rescheduled delivery plan is set to be published this Autumn.
It should be pretty obvious by now that the chance of finding a sentence containing the phrase ‘priority transport infrastructure project’ and the word ‘Wales’ within any Network Rail and the Department of Transport report is pretty minimal. Recent experience with the proposals to electrify the main line from London to Bristol suggests that they clearly have no concept of Wales or Welsh priorities beyond when they dovetail onto the end of larger infrastructure projects or when our country geographically gets in the way.
Aside from the potential economic benefits for the city centre, and the convenience of a quicker link to the main line services from Newport station there is another potential benefit. If the Newport link is open then the Gwent Valleys (and Newport) could benefit from an expanded service that runs from Ebbw Vale to Abergavenny and back again through the day. A better service, means more passengers and will help to reduce congestion on our roads. Further delay and meaningless waffle from the Welsh Government on this important rail connection is not good enough! Get it done!
The South Wales Argus, local people and politicians of every political hue have all been calling for a passenger rail link between Newport and Ebbw Vale for the last ten years. The new Labour run Welsh Government is currently prioritising its National Transport Plan, which apparently includes consideration of the rail link, and a rescheduled delivery plan is set to be published this Autumn.
It should be pretty obvious by now that the chance of finding a sentence containing the phrase ‘priority transport infrastructure project’ and the word ‘Wales’ within any Network Rail and the Department of Transport report is pretty minimal. Recent experience with the proposals to electrify the main line from London to Bristol suggests that they clearly have no concept of Wales or Welsh priorities beyond when they dovetail onto the end of larger infrastructure projects or when our country geographically gets in the way.
Aside from the potential economic benefits for the city centre, and the convenience of a quicker link to the main line services from Newport station there is another potential benefit. If the Newport link is open then the Gwent Valleys (and Newport) could benefit from an expanded service that runs from Ebbw Vale to Abergavenny and back again through the day. A better service, means more passengers and will help to reduce congestion on our roads. Further delay and meaningless waffle from the Welsh Government on this important rail connection is not good enough! Get it done!
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