Passengers reminded to check before they travel as major upgrade work on the Ebbw Vale line continues
Posted on : 17 Oct 2022
The line will be closed for nine days, from Saturday 22 October, as Network Rail engineers deliver enhancements to stations and track upgrades - making way for increased rail services for passengers in the future.
The multi-million-pound upgrades will see Network Rail’s team of engineers working day and night to extend platforms at Llanhilleth and Newbridge stations, replace and install a new railway bridge at Newbridge, and renew more than half a kilometre of track near Crosskeys station.
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council have provided the £70m funding for the scheme, via a loan from the Welsh Government. The Department for Transport and Network Rail will then provide a further £17m of funding to deliver a signalling upgrade.
The line will be fully closed for nine days from Saturday 22 October to 30 October inclusive with no train services running. During this time, Transport for Wales (TfW) will provide a replacement bus service between Ebbw Vale Town and Cardiff Central and passengers are urged to check before travelling at www.tfw.wales or on the mobile app.
There will also be a full road closure on Bridge Street as engineers work to fully replace the railway bridge at Newbridge. Bridge Street will be closed from 23:00 on Friday 21 October to 05:00 on Monday 31 October with a fully signposted diversionary route in place.
Following the October closure of the line, Network Rail teams will continue to carry out work on the Ebbw Vale line until late into summer 2023. Dates of future closures of the line will be provided to passengers closer to the date.
Once the work is completed in 2023, Transport for Wales (TfW) plans to run a new hourly train service between Ebbw Vale and Newport in addition to the current hourly service between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff. This will help provide increased access to jobs, training and leisure opportunities to communities along the line.