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Anger as £30m rail line delayed Anger as £30m rail line delayed
(about 4 hours later)
The opening of a £30m railway line between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff has been delayed until the New Year. The cancellation of the opening of a £30m railway line between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff only two days before it was due has been strongly criticised.
Blaenau Gwent AM Trish Law said the decision "beggars belief". Blaenau Gwent AM Trish Law said the cancellation "beggars belief".
An official opening planned for Friday, which would have marked the return of rail passengers to the town after 45 years, has been called off. Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said the council had told him of safety and engineering issues before the track could open in the New Year.
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said Blaenau Gwent Council had told him of outstanding safety and engineering issues before the track could open. Blaenau Gwent Council said it was "bitterly disappointed" and wanted to see the line open as soon as possible.
In a statement, Mr Jones, who is also transport minister, said the local authority had previously assured him that "that passenger services would begin before Christmas". In a statement, Mr Jones, who is also deputy first minister, said the council had previously assured him "that passenger services would begin before Christmas".
Blaenau Gwent Council is responsible for delivering the project. Blaenau Gwent Council is responsible for delivering the project to return rail passengers to the town after 45 years.
An assembly government source has told BBC Wales that he spoke to a senior official of the council on Monday and was told: "We are not going to embarrass you. The railway will be 100% ready this week". They've had years to get this line up and running, and now, a couple of weeks before Christmas, they let everyone down Plaid AM Jocelyn Davies on Blaenau Gwent Council
Trish Law, an independent AM, described the announcement as a "bombshell". An assembly government source has told BBC Wales that he spoke to a senior council official on Monday and was told: "We are not going to embarrass you. The railway will be 100% ready this week".
Mrs Law, an independent AM, described the announcement as a "bombshell".
She said: "If it was not such a deadly serious matter this would be the Christmas joke of all time.She said: "If it was not such a deadly serious matter this would be the Christmas joke of all time.
"How can it be that we get an announcement like this just two days before the much-heralded official opening and 10 days before passenger services resume after an absence of 45 years?"How can it be that we get an announcement like this just two days before the much-heralded official opening and 10 days before passenger services resume after an absence of 45 years?
"Who will finance the £2m of work that needs doing? There are many questions that demand answers.""Who will finance the £2m of work that needs doing? There are many questions that demand answers."
Blaenau Gwent Council is expected to comment later. The Ebbw Vale rail link scheme upgrades 18 miles of railway line for passenger services, restoring a link with Cardiff that was severed in 1962.
The project is a key part of the continued regeneration of the area following the closure of the Corus steel works in 2002.
Ebbw Vale's passenger rail link was severed in 1962
Mike German, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, accused the assembly government of a "series of broken promises".
He said: "The government have simply never given the line top priority."
Plaid AM Jocelyn Davies said the delay was a "huge disappointment in the area and a complete embarrassment for the Labour council".
She said: "They've had years to get this line up and running, and now, a couple of weeks before Christmas, they let everyone down."
Robin Morrison, chief executive of Blaenau Gwent Council, said: "We were assured by all parties that the date of 22 December for commencement of services was achievable, and are bitterly disappointed that last-minute issues have forced a delay.
"The council's leadership and I are seeking a high-level meeting with all the organisations involved in the project to address outstanding concerns and deliver the service at the earliest possible date."