Work still needed on £30m line

An opening ceremony had to be cancelled due to engineering issues

Work is still needed before a new £30m economically-important rail line can be opened to passengers.

The service will link Ebbw Vale to Cardiff, but there was an angry response when its long-awaited opening was called off before Christmas.

Network Rail held a "conference call" with other groups on Friday.

The assembly government said a number of infrastructure works still needed to be carried out on the line to ensure a "safe and reliable service".

South Wales East AM Mike German called for the problems to be solved quickly.

Mr German, the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, said local people's priority was for the line to be right and to open and not to wait for a "glitzy launch".

But the assembly government said: "We're not waiting for a grand official opening - the very fact we cancelled the launch last month was because we are more concerned with getting services started for the people of Blaenau Gwent and surrounding areas.

"This was - and remains - the case," added a spokesman.

Arriva Trains said it was "keen to start" the service from the Blaenau Gwent town, but could not do so until everything was in place.

Setting an opening date is a matter for Arriva Trains and Network Rail as the line was handed over to them by Blaenau Gwent Council before Christmas.

I'm not interested in the blame game Mike German, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader

According to Arriva Trains, driver training on the line started a few days before Christmas, and this takes a minimum of two weeks but usually about a month to complete.

It said trains were running on the railway during training, but no passengers were yet allowed on board.

Mr German said his staff had spoken to officials at the Welsh Assembly Government, Blaenau Gwent Council and Arriva Trains, but "none were able to tell us when the line will be open".

'Blame game'

"The line was scheduled to open on 14 December, but was delayed. Even National Rail Enquiries have no idea when it will open.

"I'm not interested in the blame game, and I don't believe the people of Blaenau Gwent are either. They simply want to see the line open and be able to travel to Cardiff - and eventually, Newport by train."

The rail link was given the go-ahead to open following a final inspection on the weekend of 15-16 December, but it was said there would be no passenger trains for at least a fortnight.

On 12 December, a row broke out when the opening was postponed just two days before it was due.

The line will restores a rail link severed in 1962, and officials hope it will help revive one of the most economically deprived areas of Wales.

A Welsh Assembly spokesman said today's discussions were part of regular communication.

"We are currently not in a position to confirm a start date for passenger services on the Ebbw Valley railway as a number of infrastructure works still need to be carried out along the line to ensure that a safe and reliable service can begin for passengers.

"Blaenau Gwent council, which is responsible for delivering the Ebbw Valley project, is working with their contractors to make sure the work is completed as soon as possible.

"Today's telephone conference is one in a series of updates for all those involved in this project."