New train station opens for Energlyn and Churchill Park

A new £5.2 million train station has opened on the Rhymney Valley line.

Located between Aber and Llanbradach stations, the new Energlyn and Churchill Park stop started services this month.
It is due to have its official opening by Economy and Transport Minister Edwina Hart on December 16.

The new station forms part of a £220m Network Rail scheme to improve the Valley Lines Network and includes new platforms at Caerphilly and Tir-Phil stations.

As part of the same scheme, an upgrade of the signalling system operating on the Rhymney line was switched on in September.

The improvements are designed to cut congestion on the line and boost capacity.

Network Rail has forecast that the number of passengers travelling in the Cardiff and Valley areas will exceed 12m per year by the end of 2015.

Last month Caerphilly school children joined Network Rail to take part in a special landscaping project at the station before its public unveiling.

Rail staff and 30 children from Plas-y-felin Primary School took part in an afternoon of gardening, which saw the children plant daffodil bulbs, spread grass and wildflower seeds.

The children focused on the patch of land at the station entrance at Lewis Drive and their work should appear in the spring.

Anthony Osammor, Scheme Project Manager Network Rail said: “The children enjoyed planting and are already looking forward to seeing the array of yellow daffodils in the spring.

“Planting at the station will help make a massive difference to the area, making it more welcoming and greatly improve the environment for the community.”

Plas-y-felin headteacher Mark Jones said: “Planting by the children is a great legacy activity and with the station just around the corner from the school, many of the children will be able to see how the grass and flowers have grown and enhanced their community and surroundings come spring.”