News - Bus link resurrected

7th November 2011

A previously axed bus link between Newport and the Ebbw Valley railway has been reurrected by the Welsh Government and Newport Council

Transport minister Carl Sargeant yesterday backed a year-long pilot of a "rail link express bus" between Rogerstone and Newport railway stations timed to connect with trains at Rogerstone on Mondays to saturdays.

The Welsh Government-funded service will be faster than the route that ran in 2008 but was axed due to poor passenger numbers – taking around 16 minutes instead of the previous 40.

Newport council leader Matthew Evans welcomed the move and said the council was assured by the Welsh Government that, following a ‘"successful pilot", a rail link would be fully considered.

But he added: "However welcome a new express bus route is, it is clearly not a long term substitute for a rail service."

Passengers will be able to purchase rail tickets on the bus and Arriva Trains Wales will sell through tickets to Newport.

It is understood that the service, which will be contracted out by Newport council and run by Newport Bus, will be used to assess the demand for passenger trains between Ebbw Vale and Newport.

The Argus has campaigned for a decade for a direct passenger link between Ebbw Vale and Newport.

Jocelyn Davies, Plaid South Wales East AM, also welcomed the move but added: "The minister may have bought some time, but ultimately he needs to categorically spell out whether a rail link to Newport is a priority for him and his government."

Mohammad Asghar, Tory South Wales East AM, said it was a step to improve connectivity between Newport and the Valleys but added: "It shouldn’t overshadow the need for a direct rail link."

Newport West AM Rosemary Butler said: "The trial phase shuttle bus service between Rogerstone and Newport City Centre is an innovative investment, and I urge people to use it or lose it!."