valley railway welsh branch line great western main line provides hourly passenger service way town line opened operated passenger service 1850s newport line british railways western region following railways passenger services withdrawn route continued carry freight closure proposals open existing freight railway line passenger services announced commitment project package measures help steel communities passenger services restored line february gap years class diesel multiple units predominantly single track north newport valley railway runs miles valley joining triangular group junctions newport line splitting eastbound section joining westbound section joining line stations services managed current service provides hourly hourly sundays passenger service town journey duration town minutes intermediate stations approximate journey times shown minutes dedicated bus services link line town centre actual passenger numbers greatly exceed forecasts passenger journeys forecast month journeys service month exceeding monthly target set august law assembly member said received complaints standing room trains trains wales provide extra carriages busy times saturdays holidays cope demand passenger journeys exceeded month october million passenger journeys line months opening comfortably exceeding fourth year target manage track signalling stations services operated existing train operating company local authorities operate station car parks area station passenger help point stations car parks stations branch lacked ticket issuing facilities late self service ticket machine installed station history background line origins constructed serve iron works upper enable receive raw materials dispatch products developments included built connect connected limestone low level north inch opened ran mile stretch laid transport coal iron ore laid jointly coal company initially trains pulled teams horses chief engineer authorised purchase steam locomotive built maiden trip december success conversion standard gauge delayed reopening found traffic lost competitors line worked london july taken railway company following year inch edge railway opened linked canal rebuilt inch gauge railway incorporated july having acquired year rebuilt extended line opened north october short steep branches opened year lease line granted great western railway august railway company acquired line august operations passenger service line began december line extended south april northern extension opened april journeys newport normally required passengers change services direct branch line great western railway railways transport act line british railways january line closed passenger traffic april prior axe mineral branches following april branch freight services continued site closed july final freight service run removed scrap metal site revival proposals assembly member calling passenger services newport resume line 1980s councillor initial feasibility study proposal carried council infrastructure project management company stations suggested plans included running trains new station celtic lakes law fighting line opening major election promises wales election campaign plaque parkway commemorates law died work open line unveiled december days planned official opening february passengers campaign group campaigning called rail link newport reopened help regeneration called socially deprived area plea followed announcement close operation employed people main steel mills 1960s mills closed completely 1980s finishing plant employing people remained site minister announced january rail link cardiff reopened morgan said package measures offset hundreds steel job losses plant time financial commitment estimated million years project cost estimated million line forecast open proposals valley line forecast cost million unveiled public january scheme provide hourly service cardiff beginning followed hourly service newport beginning display included artists impressions new stations envisaged built parkway victoria proposed stations shown rail britain ireland 11th edition published project forecast cost october electrification announced high level output specification revival works programme work restore passenger service line took place scheme response closure resulting economic wales deprived areas project led supported project managed scheme project contractor subsidiary start main works event held september attended members minister enterprise innovation networks leaders local officers project event marked start major works scheme demonstration new rail ballast cleaner works upgraded existing track passenger standard included new colour light signalling level crossing renewal miles double track providing point trains pass new stations new metres long platforms constructed services originally expected begin summer report council march showed completion project million original budget funding came sources objective structural funds provided million million provided balance january total project cost including line extension risen estimated million restoration scheme named year railway community benefit category centre restoration passenger service passenger train services class diesel multiple units restored line gap years february new station parkway close site original victoria station train restored service left parkway wednesday february train run opposite direction left minutes later packed dignitaries official opening deputy minister opened line labour leader train local residents welcomed link positive contribution valley long term regeneration celebrations place december mark line official opening arrangements included school brass bands plaques unveiled station officials dignitaries travelling route ceremonies cancelled days scheduled reopening project finished time safety engineering issues confirmed november new track tested successfully final inspection december confirmed outstanding issues resolved track handed council arranged route training train drivers new service introduced driver training began december environmental issues delayed construction line new stations colonies slow worms protected species status united_kingdom discovered near tracks sites stations moved safer place stations opened april june respectively built cost station opened december route branch line great western main line predominantly single track line runs miles town station southbound journeys begin northbound journeys end northeast mountainous valleys track runs mainly south southeast following deep sided valley line heavily curved route project restore passenger services began conditions caused maximum line speed line freight services miles hour extensive track enabled maximum line speed increased miles hour station town opened new northern terminus line prior town served parkway station south station miles south town centre provides car parking cycle storage buses pick set station car park parkway line single track facing south southeast miles stop runs past villages new station proposed proposals station included early plan proposals reconstruct spur running considered line winds south miles past village station eastern end town centre station provides park ride car park bus interchange facilities enable additional service newport begin dual track need laid second platforms constructed stations allowing trains pass line miles south passes village site proposals station included early plan line changes direction south southeast remaining miles continuing follow past confluence station platforms northbound services southbound station car parking facility public car parking available nearby track doubled providing passing loop miles station miles southeast central village immediately southeast platforms cycle pick set area near northbound platform space car park station miles southeast station miles northwest station platform line single track having passed near platform pick set lay station car park spaces southbound halt single platform station miles southeast station parking provided cars includes electric charging points meets south wales main line branch runs coastal plain cities cardiff newport triangular junction miles southwest newport station line splits west section passes form north facing connection main line allowing trains travel newport section meets main line south facing allows trains reach cardiff central station miles southwest proposed additional services second hourly service newport proposed line report noted additional infrastructure work required enable service half hourly train running cardiff newport additional seven miles double track needed junction additional platforms stations required according points system junction need replaced line linked station newport station major works need carried passenger trains travel faster freight trains signals need apart announced july relevant works enable direct trains newport complete work track newport connecting newport scheduled completion october decision link march rebuilding branch replace shuttle bus service planned proposal new station track need laid miles included feasibility study design work new station town commissioned station site closed mile north line initial terminus forecast cost million opened carrying track improvement work double line mentioned raise line speed hopes complete project allow introduction regular service newport addition current cardiff passenger volume
Ebbw Valley Railway