Network Rail has reopened the Ebbw Vale line, after a nine-day closure.
Major upgrades have been taking place, with teams of staff working day and night – approximately 10,000 hours in total – to carry out work along the entire length of the line.
Tom Edwards, project manager at Network Rail, said: “We would like to thank passengers and the local communities along the line for their patience as we delivered this work.
“We know there is never a right time to carry out work of this nature but closing the line and Bridge Street road for a period of nine-days has allowed our contractors unlimited access to the railway to complete a significant amount of work.”
The £70 million project, funded by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council via a loan from the Welsh Government, saw a major transformation undertaken. However, despite the huge amounts of work, the project team tried to keep disruption to a minimum overnight by using battery powered generators at the site compounds.
At Newbridge station, a rail bridge over Bridge Street was replaced using a 650-tonne crane; new track was installed, and platform extensions were carried out. South of Newbridge station, a 40 metre by 20 metre retaining wall next to Riverside Park was taken down with approximately 250 lorry loads of spoil removed, before the embankment was regraded. Engineers then installed 200 metres of brand-new track.
At Llanhilleth station, teams worked hard to install the foundations of the new platform on the southern end of the station. Further along the line, 20 kilometres of signalling cable was also installed as well as four trackside cabinets which will house new signalling equipment next to the railway.
The Department for Transport and Network Rail will provide a further £17 million of funding to deliver a signalling upgrade. Work will continue the line until late into summer 2023, with further dates of closures provided to passengers closer to the date.
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