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Direct train services to Newport along the Ebbw Valley line will begin in December, Transport for Wales has confirmed.

The line will have two trains per hour – one to Cardiff and one to Newport – more than 60 services a day.

The Ebbw Valley line reopened to passengers in February 2008, after being closed for more than 40 years. It serves the stations for Newbridge, Crosskeys, and Risca and Pontymister.

However passengers wishing to go to Newport have to travel to Cardiff first to change trains. This will no longer be the case from December.

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council received a £70 million interest-free loan to carry out infrastructure improvements in its area alongside work by Network Rail and service operator Transport for Wales.

A huge programme of work is being conducted along the entire length of the line including a new platform at Newbridge to accommodate longer trains in future.

TfW Project Sponsor Kevin Lewis said the project was an example of “true collaboration”.

He said: “These new services will be a huge boost for the local economy giving people more options for leisure, learning and business travel.

“If you want to travel towards Bristol, London or Manchester, you no longer have to double back on yourself to Cardiff, though those services are still there for those heading west.

“TfW, Network Rail and our partners in Blaenau Gwent Council, as well as Caerphilly Council have worked incredibly closely to ensure we’ve delivered genuine value for money from this Welsh Government investment. This really has been a truly collaborative effort.”

To allow the services to run, a new seven-mile passing loop has been built between Crosskeys and Aberbeeg alongside new earthworks and drainage, constructed to accommodate the new track.

Alongside this work, The Department for Transport and Network Rail have provided a further £17m of funding to deliver the signalling upgrade at the south end of the line.

Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Property and Highways at Caerphilly Council said: “The improvements at Newbridge station and the wider works on the route between Ebbw Vale and Newport are a fantastic step forward to improving access for all to public transport.

“Not only will they improve access for disabled travellers, they should also encourage more people to travel by rail and improve the customer experience for families with pushchairs and those with luggage.”

Network Rail with contractors AmcoGiffen and Siemens have been delivering the work on infrastructure for the past 18 months with the next set of work included below. During this time work will be continuous (24/7) as buses replace trains.

• Sunday 24 September
• Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October
• Sunday 15 November to Monday 4 December 2023