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| Ebbw Vale's train link restored | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Work is to begin on laying the tracks for a rail link between Cardiff and Ebbw Vale - which it is hoped will boost one of Wales' most deprived areas. | |
| It has been 44 years since the last passenger train ran in the area. | |
| Now the line which has been used for freight services, is being upgraded with six new stations being built. | |
| It is hoped the hourly service will provide better commuting opportunities for people in Blaenau Gwent. | |
| The Ebbw Vale rail link scheme will upgrade 18 miles of railway line for passenger services, restoring a link with Cardiff that was severed in 1962. | The Ebbw Vale rail link scheme will upgrade 18 miles of railway line for passenger services, restoring a link with Cardiff that was severed in 1962. |
| 'Beautiful landscapes' | 'Beautiful landscapes' |
| Trish Law, assembly member for Blaenau Gwent, said she was "delighted" work was starting on the rail service after her late husband Peter Law had campaigned for the service. | Trish Law, assembly member for Blaenau Gwent, said she was "delighted" work was starting on the rail service after her late husband Peter Law had campaigned for the service. |
| She said: "It gives our people in Blaenau Gwent the chance to get to Cardiff and to get to Newport either for leisure or for work. | She said: "It gives our people in Blaenau Gwent the chance to get to Cardiff and to get to Newport either for leisure or for work. |
| "But it also gives others the chance to come into Blaenau Gwent - which is absolutely beautiful - to see what we've got here. A lot of history and beautiful landscapes." | "But it also gives others the chance to come into Blaenau Gwent - which is absolutely beautiful - to see what we've got here. A lot of history and beautiful landscapes." |
| Ebbw Vale's rail link was severed in 1962 | Ebbw Vale's rail link was severed in 1962 |
| Welsh Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies will launch the track work at Ebbw Vale on Thursday at 1130 BST. | Welsh Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies will launch the track work at Ebbw Vale on Thursday at 1130 BST. |
| The project is a key part of the continued regeneration of the area following the closure of the Corus works in 2002. | The project is a key part of the continued regeneration of the area following the closure of the Corus works in 2002. |
| Transport expert Stuart Cole of the University of Glamorgan said the scheme is about regeneration. | Transport expert Stuart Cole of the University of Glamorgan said the scheme is about regeneration. |
| "It's people's opportunities to get jobs, people's opportunities to take part in social events and people's opportunities to improve their environment and lifestyle," Professor Cole said. | "It's people's opportunities to get jobs, people's opportunities to take part in social events and people's opportunities to improve their environment and lifestyle," Professor Cole said. |
| New stations along the route will include Abertillery, Llanhilleth and Risca. | New stations along the route will include Abertillery, Llanhilleth and Risca. |
| However, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Mike German said he was concerned about the standard of the service. | |
| "What sort of trains are people going to travel in? Are they going to be comfortable or are they going to be squashed up like bottles in a milk crate?" asked Mr German. | "What sort of trains are people going to travel in? Are they going to be comfortable or are they going to be squashed up like bottles in a milk crate?" asked Mr German. |