Ebbw Vale train service resumes 46 years on

[whole diary]

[anthony215]

Good, lets hope this bus link is better used than the previous 1.

I very much look forward to the day when there is a direct train service between Ebbw Vale & Newport.

[eightf48544]

As a matter of interest what's holding up the reinstatement of the Newport service?

[paul7575]

As a matter of interest what's holding up the reinstatement of the Newport service?

Earlier removal of passenger quality signalling, I think - post #11 in this thread refers...

Paul

[anthony215]

As a matter of interest what's holding up the reinstatement of the Newport service?

Signalling, which is being replaced, plus the have to close the  signal box at Park junction and transfer to the signalling centre in Cardiff.

Another problem will be the lack of stock, especially with 2 units away on hire to Northern and NXEA^▸ (National Express East Anglia).

Also I think the double track section midway on the Ebbw Vale line needs to be extended to allow for a half hourly service between Ebbw Vale & Rogerstone.

Finally we have to see the extension from Ebbw Vale Parkway to Ebbw Vale Town.

[phile]

Yes, track capacity at tne Northern end preventing 2 trains per hour to Ebbw Vale.     We are waiting an announcement from the Welsh Assembly Government re Strategic Trans port Policy including a mention of Ebbw Vale to Newport.   Tis should have been on Thursday last November 3rd.   Representatives of stake holder Groups were invited to the Senedd and the Agenda was revised to create a 20 minute slot.     But nothing happened !!!
The December Timetable is being delayed as the question of the WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) North to South services could be affected in this review which should have been available in the Spring but the Assembly dithered, the came the Assembly elections but they dithered again and decided to review again.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the South Wales Argus:

Only 700 use Rogerstone to Newport Rail Linc bus

Only around 700 passengers used the Ebbw Valley railway line bus link in the first few months of its operation, the Argus has learned.

Newport West AM Rosemary Butler said the figures for the Rail Linc bus from Rogerstone to Newport railway station were "extremely disappointing" and reiterated her call for people to use or lose the service.

Welsh Government officials are using the pilot service to test demand for a permanent passenger rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport which the Argus has campaigned for for many years.

According to the figures obtained from Rosemary Butler's office 705 passengers used the service between January 23 and May 5. The busiest week was the week ending April 28, when 81 people used the service.

Ms Butler said: "These figures are extremely disappointing and the take-up of this service has not been as high as we had hoped." She said it was important the pilot scheme was publicised extensively and she welcomed a planned marketing campaign. "The minister and I are committed to making this scheme a success, and I urge passengers to use it or lose it," she said.

Councillor Ken Critchley, cabinet member for infrastructure, said a marketing campaign is being launched next month to raise awareness of the service. He said the city council still wants a passenger link opened up to the city centre and that the pilot service is just one element in assessing the need for restarting trains between Ebbw Vale and Newport. But he added: "I would encourage people to use rail link bus as this would help towards the already strong case for reopening the line."

The Newport council-contracted service, which received ^119,000 in funding from the Welsh Government for a 12-month pilot, is timed to connect with trains at Rogerstone.

A previous bus link in 2008 was axed as few people used it.

[matt473]

The problem with the bus service is why would people catch a train to connect with a bus when there are direct bus services available that run from the same places without requiring a change that are reasonably priced. A direct service to Newport would be attractive as lack of change and quicker journey times would be attractive. A direct servicve would also enable connections to Bristol, Gloucester etc. allowing for better long distance opportunities to compete with the car which people will not consider requiring a train-bus-train combo. The bus service was to a certain extent always doomed and hopefully it won't be used as ammo by accountants in the WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) to say Ebbw Vale to Newport does not require a direct service.

[phile]

The problem with the bus service from Rogerstone to Newport centre ran all around the houses calling several times.   I believe it has now been re-instated for a trial period and running direct.

[eightf48544]

Isn't Ebbw Vale due to get wires? So presumeably considerabe upgrades as well to loops and signalling to increase service frequency.

[anthony215]

Isn't Ebbw Vale due to get wires? So presumeably considerabe upgrades as well to loops and signalling to increase service frequency.

I have been thinking about this and I wouldnt be surprised if they do the work to extend the double track section of the Ebbw Vale branch around the same time they are putting up the wires and hopefully we willl see the extension to Ebbw Vale town completed as well.

I am not sure if any signalling needs doing as I think that work has already been completed.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the South Wales Argus:

Assembly drops Abertillery rail station plan

A new railway station at Abertillery will not be considered until at least 2015, the transport minister has confirmed.

In a letter to South Wales East AM Mohammad Asghar, Carl Sargeant said the matter is not a priority for delivery within the next three years.

Blaenau Gwent council are involved in a multi-million pound regeneration of the town and it had hoped a new station on the Ebbw Valley Line would further enhance its ability to attract jobs and further investment to the area.

Back in October 2010, transport consultant Capita Symonds recommended that a new station be built in Abertillery, with a new hourly service introduced between the town and Cardiff.

Members of the South East Wales Transport Alliance approved this, with negotiations taking place with Tesco to buy land that would also fit 80 car parking spaces.

However, the final decision rested with the Welsh Government and all went quiet on the issue.

South Wales East AM Mohammad Asghar wrote to transport minister Carl Sargeant recently asking for an update on the situation.

Mr Sargeant replied this week, saying: "The Welsh Government published its prioritised National Transport Plan last December, which details the Welsh Government^s core funding priorities for transport until 2015.

"As a new station at Abertillery was not included in the original National Transport Plan, it was therefore not prioritised for delivery in the period to 2015."

Mr Asghar said he is disappointed, saying it shows a "lack of ambition for rail services in south east Wales".

Leader of Blaenau Gwent council Hedley McCarthy said: "I understand money is tight and while we weren^t really expecting anything sooner than this, we are anxious as a council to keep the aspiration alive."