Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 17:55 28 Mar 2024
- How do I renew my UK passport and what is the 10-year rule?
- Passengers pleaded with knifeman during attack
* Family anger at sentence on fatal crash driver, 19
- Easter travel warning as millions set to hit roads
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
28th Mar (1988)
Woman found murdered on Orpington to London train (*)

Train RunningCancelled
16:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
17:48 Reading to Gatwick Airport
17:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
17:57 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street
18:04 Bristol Temple Meads to Filton Abbey Wood
18:04 Bedwyn to Newbury
18:08 London Paddington to Frome
18:26 Newbury to Bedwyn
18:37 Westbury to Swindon
18:51 Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol Temple Meads
18:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
19:24 Newbury to Bedwyn
19:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading
19:33 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill
19:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
20:16 Frome to Westbury
20:49 Newbury to Bedwyn
20:56 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington
21:16 Bedwyn to Newbury
Short Run
14:49 Plymouth to Cardiff Central
15:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
15:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
15:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
15:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
15:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
16:19 Carmarthen to London Paddington
16:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth
16:50 Plymouth to London Paddington
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance
17:30 London Paddington to Taunton
17:30 Warminster to Bristol Temple Meads
17:36 Swindon to Westbury
17:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
Delayed
13:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance
14:15 Penzance to London Paddington
14:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
15:03 London Paddington to Penzance
16:03 London Paddington to Penzance
Additional 17:17 Exeter St Davids to Penzance
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 28, 2024, 18:00:46 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[133] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[132] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[53] Return of the BRUTE?
[44] If not HS2 to Manchester, how will traffic be carried?
[41] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[32] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1]
  Print  
Author Topic: Ebbw Vale direct service to (or via?) Newport?  (Read 3914 times)
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« on: April 29, 2018, 20:52:49 »

From the South Wales Argus - a proposal to run trains from Ebbw Vale into Newport as well as Cardiff.

Quote
CALLS have been made for the resurrection of a long-standing South Wales Argus campaign to reopen a rail passenger line between Newport and Ebbw Vale.

Conservative councillor Matthew Evans told a meeting of Newport City Council that the “Get Us Back On Track” campaign could help the efforts of politicians at local and national level to bring the delayed plans forward.

My understanding of the geography is that the Cardiff to Ebbw Vale services passes through the suburbs of Newport already, around one side of a triangle.  Second side is the south Wales main line, third side (that would be used by the service) is in situ and indeed used by freight, and has been used in an emergency for passengers.

It would seem to my (English) mind to make common sense for (some) trains from the valley above Newport to serve Newport  Grin - and also provide a much quicker link from the valley and its residential area to employment in Newport and indeed across the border in England;  Ebbw Vale to Bristol perhaps, also meeting the aspiration of a second train calling at intermediate stations such as Severn Tunnel Junction and Patchway.  See [here]

Potential timetable / hourly pattern?

Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
metalrail
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 189


View Profile
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2018, 21:24:30 »

Sounds good to me...  I actually thought the line from Park Junction to Gaer Junction was supposed to have been turned over to passenger service some years back once Pye Corner had opened to give direct services to NWP.  I used to work with a fair few people from the Ebbw valley when I worked at Aztec West, and am sure they've had loved being able to get there much easier than the nightmare we all encountered every morning and evening rush hour around Aztec roundabout!

Plus lets face it any increase to the local PWY service has to be a good thing!
Logged

Oh for the day when I can catch a train from Mangotsfield to the Centre, Bath and Yate!  ;-)
welshman
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 277


View Profile
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2018, 23:48:18 »

The infrastructure is in place, I believe.  Services ran to Newport rather than Cardiff for a period in 2016.

There was a need for double-tracking a further section to increase line capacity but this work has been completed.  The issue is at least partly lack of rolling stock.

It is suggested that the new franchise agreement may include a requirement for Newport-Ebbw Vale services.
Logged
martyjon
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1941


View Profile
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2018, 06:29:01 »

I never understood the logic of NOT operating the re-opened Ebbw Vale line services to / via Newport when it was 'so near yet so far'. A reversal at Newport would have still provided a service to Cardiff and more convenient connections to London and to Birmingham and points north, compare this to the GWR (Great Western Railway) services Cheltenham - London and Cheltenham - Bristol if these were not to call at Gloucester 'for operational convenience'..
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2018, 07:01:04 »

I too thought that the Ebbw Vale service was going to come into Newport station fairly soon after it started; I'm amazed they're still waiting years later.

You can make out the chord on the map ... wonder if there's some issue with passengers through the tunnel on it?



I used to work with a fair few people from the Ebbw valley when I worked at Aztec West, and am sure they've had loved being able to get there much easier than the nightmare we all encountered every morning and evening rush hour around Aztec roundabout!

Plus lets face it any increase to the local PWY service has to be a good thing!

Agreed - it would seem like a win, win ...
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
martyjon
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1941


View Profile
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2018, 07:19:29 »

I too thought that the Ebbw Vale service was going to come into Newport station fairly soon after it started; I'm amazed they're still waiting years later.

You can make out the chord on the map ... wonder if there's some issue with passengers through the tunnel on it?

Agreed - it would seem like a win, win ...

I can't remember there being a tunnel on the chord line to Park Junction after passing through the main line / relief line tunnels just on the Cardiff side of Newport station, I have been on a train that has actually been turned on the triangle, into Newport then to Alexandra Dock Junction, reverse to Park Junction then forwards back into Newport.

Edit: Having looked at Google Maps, there is a tunnel on the chord line to Park Junction, my apologies, reminds me of the day I fell asleep on a service from London to Bristol Parkway and woke up just as the train was passing Alexandra Dock Junction and luckily there was just one service, the last one of the day back to Bristol Parkway from Cardiff.

« Last Edit: April 30, 2018, 08:26:30 by martyjon » Logged
ellendune
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4452


View Profile
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2018, 08:17:34 »

I dimly recall that the original reason given was something to do with the signalling at Newport that would be fixed when the Newport resignalling went ahead.  Clearly that has happened so there should be no impediment.  Do I remember correctly?

Logged
eightf48544
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4574


View Profile Email
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2018, 12:21:51 »

Should be no problem with passenger trains on the chord. Been via the chord on a UK (United Kingdom) railtours Clsss 66 hauled set of Mark 1s last year.



Logged
Trowres
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 749


View Profile
« Reply #8 on: April 30, 2018, 22:22:56 »

I dimly recall that the original reason given was something to do with the signalling at Newport that would be fixed when the Newport resignalling went ahead.  Clearly that has happened so there should be no impediment.  Do I remember correctly?


The Newport resignalling included an extra crossover west of Hillfield Tunnel (between the main lines) to facilitate running toward Ebbw Vale. My recollection is that the Welsh Assembly Government were asked for around £2m for this.

I can't remember if there were problems with Park Junction also, nor whether they have been solved. Trains between Ebbw Vale and Newport have been timetabled when the route to Cardiff was closed.
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2018, 16:48:10 »

Noting this new service is in the new franchise

http://tfw.gov.wales/whats-happening-south-east-wales

Quote
Train service improvements include:

A new 1 train per hour (tph) Ebbw Vale to Newport service by May 2021.

Now ... join it up to the Bristol Parkway to Weston-super-mare service, serving all intermediate stations in both directions, and you bring bigger benefits than the individual (unlinked) services
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 18894



View Profile
« Reply #10 on: June 04, 2018, 19:43:15 »

Who operates and funds such a service? TfW/KeolisAmey or DfT» (Department for Transport - about)/Greater Western franchisee?

Or a return of cross border cooperation as happened in the past with Wessex Trains and Wales & Borders? That was helped though by both franchises being run by the same parent.
Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #11 on: June 04, 2018, 19:58:24 »

Who operates and funds such a service? TfW/KeolisAmey or DfT» (Department for Transport - about)/Greater Western franchisee?

Or a return of cross border cooperation as happened in the past with Wessex Trains and Wales & Borders? That was helped though by both franchises being run by the same parent.

I suspect Joe Public doesn't care - just wants trains that are clean, safe, on time as timetabled, with enough capacity for the passengers, at fares that are understandable and reasonable.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Louis94
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 446


View Profile
« Reply #12 on: June 06, 2018, 15:29:09 »

There was a need for double-tracking a further section to increase line capacity but this work has been completed.  The issue is at least partly lack of rolling stock.


If you are referring to the doubling North of Crosskeys to the former Aberbeeg Junction (Just north of Llanhilleth), then this work has not been completed yet. Last I heard it had been paused, although there was never any official source for this. As far as I am aware the aim is to deliver the additional services between Newport and Ebbw Vale by May 2021, so the passing loop will need to be available for then if this is the case.
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page