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Newbridge Railway Station is being prepared for “major upgrades” this autumn, Network Rail has announced.

The upgrades will see a new platform added and existing platforms extended to allow for a new hourly service to Newport.

Work will be carried between October 22 and October 30, but areas are set to be cordoned off in the coming weeks as preparations for the work begin.

Work will take place day and night, with replacement buses being deployed. Engineers will also be replacing the rail bridge over Bridge Street during this period, meaning the road will be shut to both pedestrians and vehicles.

A diversion will be in place.

Improvements will also be made to Llanhilleth Station, which is further up the Ebbw Valley line.

The works are part of a £70m investment from Blaenau Gwent Council, through the Welsh Government.

Nick Millington, Interim Route Director for Network Rail Wales, said: “An additional hourly service to Newport will open up a wealth of opportunities for communities on this route while providing easier, low carbon access to other large cities on the south Wales mainline.

“We know there’ll be some disruption as we safely deliver this work so I’d like to thank the local communities and passengers in advance for bearing with us.”

Alexia Course, Transport for Wales’ Director of Transport Operations, said: “We’ll be able to run more frequent services, including direct services between Ebbw Vale and Newport, when the work is complete as part of our wider programme to transform the Wales and Borders network.

“While the work is taking place we advise passengers to check our new website, our recently-updated app or the TfW social media channels for the latest travel information.”

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, welcomed the investment and said it would “help support our Lower Ebbw and Sirhowy Valleys Masterplan – which sets out the future development and regeneration opportunities to promote communities, strengthen the economy, improve sustainable transport, and improve the quality of life for residents”.

Network Rail will be holding a drop-in event at Newbridge Memo on Thursday, August 11 for residents to learn more about the plans. The event will run between 3.30pm and 6.30pm.