<-- News Release

WORK COMMENCES ON EBBW VALE RAILWAY

Work is due to start shortly on the first phase of re-opening the rail passenger link from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff and Newport. 

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council have awarded Morricom Limited with the contract to clear and manage lineside vegetation on the Ebbw Valley Railway line. 

The line has not been regularly used since the closure of the Corus Steelworks in 2002. The contract is to clear and manage vegetation on 16.5 miles of track, lineside and at the six new station sites. Ecological surveys have been undertaken to ensure that any impact on local wildlife is minimal. 

The contract is in preparation of the main works, due to be tendered shortly. The main works consists of redoubling the track, implementing new signalling and the construction of six new stations. 

Clearance work is due to commence this week and it is predicted that work will take place over the following six weeks.  

Much of the work will re-establish the traditional techniques of ‘coppicing’ and ‘pollarding’ of trees along the route, which has been carried out in the past. This involves the repeated cutting of trees on a 10 –15 year cycle to manage the size of the trees adjacent to the route whilst conserving the benefits of tree cover. This will have the added bonus of establishing a more diverse habitat for wildlife alongside the line. 

In addition old and unstable trees will be removed to prevent the possibility of branches or trees falling and obstructing the line. The works will also aid in reducing the leaf fall on the line and therefore assist in ensuring the operational reliability of the new passenger services on the steeply graded route.  

As part of the scheme ground investigation works are also ongoing on both the Permanent Way and the new Station sites.  

The Permanent Way investigation will ascertain the ground conditions of the existing trackbed and ballast, and assist in enabling the design of any renewal works for track substructures and lineside drainage.  

Ground investigation at Station sites commenced in December to determine ground conditions for design and construction of the Stations along the Ebbw Valley Railway. Additional investigations will be carried out at Limekiln level crossing to establish design for an upgraded crossing. 

Cllr John Hopkins, Leader of Blaenau Gwent Council, welcomed the start of the work, saying, “It’s great to be at the point where the physical work begins to make the new rail link a reality.  

“The re-opening of the Ebbw Valley railway is a crucial element in regenerating the whole county.  Modern, efficient transport links are essential for making Blaenau Gwent an attractive place to live, work and play.” 

The Ebbw Valley Railway Scheme will establish six new train stations at Rogerstone, Risca and Pontymister, Crosskeys, Newbridge, Llanhilleth and Ebbw Vale Parkway to serve the communities in the Valley. Services are planned to commence with an hourly passenger service from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff in 2006.  Dedicated feeder bus services will link the line to Ebbw Vale and Abertillery town centres.