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Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s planning committee has
granted planning consent for two new railway stations on the Ebbw
Valley Railway line, one near Glan Ebbw Terrace, Victoria, Ebbw
Vale and the other to the rear of Commercial Road Llanhilleth.
The
railway stations each comprise a single platform with passenger
waiting shelters, seating and two-way passenger help points.
Both
stations have park and ride car park facilities incorporating
designated areas for setting down/picking up passengers as well as
secure bicycle storage. The car park at Ebbw Vale Parkway can
accommodate around 100 vehicles with Llanhilleth having just over
50 spaces to meet anticipated parking demand.
Four
of the six stations along the Ebbw Valley line have now been
granted planning permission: Ebbw Vale Parkway, Llanhilleth,
Newbridge and Rogerstone.
Planning
applications were submitted to Caerphilly County Borough Council
for the two remaining stations at Crosskeys (end of August) and
Risca & Pontymister (early September). The plans for these two
stations can currently be viewed at Caerphilly’s planning
department in Pontllanfraith.
The
ambitious proposal to reintroduce passenger trains on the Ebbw
Valley railway line is being promoted by the Councils of Blaenau
Gwent, Caerphilly and Newport and is supported by the Welsh
Assembly Government. Capita Symonds is managing the design work
and procurement for the stations on behalf of the three Gwent
authorities.
Construction
work for the rail project is scheduled to begin in Spring 2006 and
passenger services are due to commence in Spring 2007 with an
hourly passenger service to Cardiff.
Councillor
Dennis Owens, Executive Member for Creating Jobs and Skills said,
“This
is another big milestone in the railway project. Each step brings
us closer to the restoration of a regular service, which is so
vital in providing our valleys with the infrastructure required
for the economic regeneration we are driving forward.”
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