For the first time in almost 60 years passengers will benefit from direct train services between Pont-y-cymer-Crosskeys and Casnewydd as part of Transport for Wales’ (TfW) December 2021 timetable uplift and development of the South Wales Metro.
Previously, passengers wishing to travel from Pont-y-cymer-Crosskeys to Casnewydd would have had to travel on the direct services into Caerdydd and then change trains to continue to Casnewydd.
However, from Sunday 12 December, there will be a new hourly service between Crosskeys and Caerdydd until 21:20, Monday to Saturday, and the service will run every two hours on Sundays. Services will also call at Risca and Pontymister, Rogerstone and Pye Corner stations.
The reintroduction of the route, which ceased in April 1962 following the closure of the Glynebwy Line to passengers, has been made possible with a £1.2 million investment to upgrade the Glynebwy Line, which has been achieved thanks to collaborative working between TfW and Network Rail.
Deputy Minister for Climate Change, with a responsibility for transport, Lee Waters said: “It’s great to see this finally getting underway after a long campaign by locals. We’re keen to extend the service to Ebbw Vale as soon as possible as part of an upgrading of the public transport system across the region.”
Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at TfW, said: “Restoring direct services between the lower Ebbw Valley and Newport has been an important ambition for us and we are delighted passengers will now benefit from the hard work undertaken to make this happen. It is also an important step in the development of the South Wales Metro, as plans develop to further improve the Ebbw Vale Line.”
Bill Kelly, route director for Network Rail Wales and Borders, added: “The reopening of the Ebbw Vale line was fundamental to sparking the railway renaissance in Wales so it’s fantastic to be building on that success with this new direct service to and from Newport.
“We’re working with the Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and other partners to deliver more frequent services on the Ebbw Vale line in future and this is a hugely important milestone towards that.
"The enhancement of services will affect the frequency of trains passing over three level crossings along the line: Risca, Tymelin and Kings Head level crossings. Users of these crossings are advised to check the new timetable before using the crossings for their own safety."