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| Talks to break rail link deadlock | Talks to break rail link deadlock |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Talks have been called to try to end the delays holding up an economically important new £30m rail line. | |
| The service will link Ebbw Vale to Cardiff, but there was an angry response when its long-awaited opening was called off before Christmas. | 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 has now arranged a meeting for later on Friday with other groups to try to set a starting date. | Network Rail has now arranged a meeting for later on Friday with other groups to try to set a starting date. |
| Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German said the priority was to open it and not to wait for a "glitzy launch". | Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German said the priority was to open it and not to wait for a "glitzy launch". |
| Mr German, an AM for South Wales East, called for the problems to be solved as soon as possible, three weeks after a planned opening ceremony for the line was cancelled over safety and engineering issues. | Mr German, an AM for South Wales East, called for the problems to be solved as soon as possible, three weeks after a planned opening ceremony for the line was cancelled over safety and engineering issues. |
| 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. | 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. | 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, and I don't believe the people of Blaenau Gwent are either... they simply want to see the line open Mike German, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader | 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 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. | 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. | 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". | 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' | '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. | "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." | "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." |
| Mr German said he hoped the wait was not for a "some grand official opening" to be re-arranged, as the people of Ebbw Vale had waited long enough. | Mr German said he hoped the wait was not for a "some grand official opening" to be re-arranged, as the people of Ebbw Vale had waited long enough. |
| "They want the line right, and aren't concerned about the limelight for a glitzy launch. The sooner it is up and running, the happier they will be," he said. | "They want the line right, and aren't concerned about the limelight for a glitzy launch. The sooner it is up and running, the happier they will be," he said. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| The Welsh Assembly Government has been asked for a comment. | The Welsh Assembly Government has been asked for a comment. |