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EBBW Vale residents welcomed the first train which pulled into the new Town Station this morning.

The station is part of a ^11.5m Welsh Government-funded project, which includes an extension and speed improvements to the railway track. It is located on the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff line and will be served by the existing hourly service, with the potential for additional services to be introduced in future.

There were around 20 people who greeted the first train which arrived at 8.41am on Sunday from Cardiff Central. The first train departed at 8.45am to Cardiff Central.

The new station, delivered by Network Rail, features a new station building, 150m platform to fit up to six train carriages, car park, CCTV, customer information screens, waiting shelter, help point, ticket machines and bicycle storage. New track has been installed extending the existing railway northwards from Ebbw Vale Parkway, through The Works and up to Ebbw Vale town.

Paul Hagley, 52, of Llanhilleth, said: "I came up from Llanhilleth to ride the train to the new station. I think it will be well used with people being able to walk into town.

"I work in Rogerstone and now it will be even better for me as instead of every hour there will be a train every half hour. The station provides better links for people going to Cardiff and Newport to have opportunities for jobs."

Dian Williams, a resident from Rassau, said: "I think it's brilliant - we wouldn't have missed it. It will be much nearer for us than parkway."

Faye Boulton, 44, a nurse from Bridgend came to see the train with her sons.

She said: "It was really good. We came to see the new station - it's great for the area and will help more people get into Cardiff."

Richard Raine, 39, project manager of Buckingham Group, who built the station, said: "It's great to see the amount of people come out to support the station here today.

"There were a lot of people and school children walking from parkway station passed the south end of the town. This is an extra link for them which I believe will be good for the community."

The construction work started in February and was completed in 14 weeks.

The construction work started in February and was completed in 14 weeks.

I am interested in the history of this line because I used to live near it when I worked at the now defunct Alcan plant in Rogerstone. At that time it was freight only.

When I was working in the Cardiff area recently I had some spare time so I did the journey from Cardiff to Ebbw Vale parkway and it certainly is a very scenic - but slow- line.

It's good to see the line opened up and a new station opened. I would love to see services opened up from Newport and I guess there are good reasons why this hasn't happened.