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Rail link smashes passenger targets
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| SUCCESS: The Ebbw valley link has been used by about 201,000 passengers since it opened |
MORE than 200,000 passengers used the Ebbw Valley rail line in its first four months - smashing Assembly targets for the number of people set to use it.
The service was used by 201,000 passengers up to mid-June, 50,000 passengers more than the National Assembly projected would use the service in the entire first year.
Assembly figures projected the demand for the service would be 150,000 in the first year, rising to 453,000 after four years.
However, at the current rate, the service is set to meet this number in its first year and to cope with the demand, Arriva Trains Wales is running trains with four carriages as opposed to two every Saturday and during certain holidays.
Six years after the launch of the Argus 'Get us back on track' campaign, calling for the Ebbw Valley link to run to Newport station, there is still no set date for work to begin on the Rogerstone to Newport line.
Leader of Blaenau Gwent Council, Des Hillman, said: "It's tremendous news. We're over the moon with these figures and the usage of it."
The £30 million line reopened on February 6 for the first time in more than 40 years when around 70 people stepped onto the 6.40am Ebbw Vale to Cardiff train.
Cllr Hillman was confident about the number of passengers using the service this year will outstrip the projected figure for the fourth year "It's going to beat it, hands down, everybody whose been on it thinks it's wonderful - it's brilliant."
Arriva Trains Wales commercial director, Mike Bagshaw, said: "Arriva Trains Wales is delighted at the success of the Ebbw Valley line which has exceeded all expectations."
Cllr Hillman added that he hoped these figures would encourage work to begin on additional stations in Ebbw Vale and Abertillery, as well as the long sought after Newport link.
Ebbw Vale North councillor, Jen Morgan described the figures as "wonderful."
She added: "I think it's brilliant, it just shows the line was needed. It just proves those people wrong who said it wasn't."
Cllr Morgan also called for the Abertillery station and Newport link to be the next priority, saying it would help boost these "fantastic" passenger figures.
11:52am Thursday 17th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: lisaJ, newport on 12:28pm Thu 17 Jul 08
I used this service from the Rogerstone station for the first time a couple of Saturdays ago and it was just brilliant. No hassle involved, left the car in the car-park, boarded the train (not enough seats though going into Cardiff)got off the other end and then repeated the journey backwards at end of day (with a seat this time) and all for £4 00 odd, absolutely brilliant!!
I used this service from the Rogerstone station for the first time a couple of Saturdays ago and it was just brilliant. No hassle involved, left the car in the car-park, boarded the train (not enough seats though going into Cardiff)got off the other end and then repeated the journey backwards at end of day (with a seat this time) and all for £4 00 odd, absolutely brilliant!!
Posted by: lisaJ, newport on 12:33pm Thu 17 Jul 08
Sorry forgot to say that on way home was talking to lady who lives in Ebbw Vale and she works in Barry.Having the train service she says is saving her about £3,000 a year on travelling by car, how fantastic is that!!
Sorry forgot to say that on way home was talking to lady who lives in Ebbw Vale and she works in Barry.Having the train service she says is saving her about £3,000 a year on travelling by car, how fantastic is that!!
Posted by: Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire on 12:53pm Thu 17 Jul 08
Just need more local stations now - Pye Corner (Bassaleg Junc), Newport West (Coedkernew), Llanwern, Caerleon, St. Julians.. just think of the possibilities!
Just need more local stations now - Pye Corner (Bassaleg Junc), Newport West (Coedkernew), Llanwern, Caerleon, St. Julians.. just think of the possibilities!
Posted by: geoffrw, newport on 1:11pm Thu 17 Jul 08
This just goes to prove that the public will use the trains & busses when a proper service is provided.
Now how about a few more stations and a few more trains. It can't be safe to all those people standing all the time. Only eight are allowed to stand on the average bus.
This just goes to prove that the public will use the trains & busses when a proper service is provided.
Now how about a few more stations and a few more trains. It can't be safe to all those people standing all the time. Only eight are allowed to stand on the average bus.
Posted by: js, cardiff on 1:32pm Thu 17 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Owain Vaughan[/bold] wrote:
Just need more local stations now - Pye Corner (Bassaleg Junc), Newport West (Coedkernew), Llanwern, Caerleon, St. Julians.. just think of the possibilities![/quote] yeah good thinking Owain and put an extra half hour on the journey !!!!!
Owain Vaughan wrote:
Just need more local stations now - Pye Corner (Bassaleg Junc), Newport West (Coedkernew), Llanwern, Caerleon, St. Julians.. just think of the possibilities!
yeah good thinking Owain and put an extra half hour on the journey !!!!!
Posted by: Rob, Risca on 2:20pm Thu 17 Jul 08
This is good news and just shows what can happen with an attractive and reliable transport service like this. It must surely encourage the politicians to give serious consideration to funding the link to Newport and beyond!
This is good news and just shows what can happen with an attractive and reliable transport service like this. It must surely encourage the politicians to give serious consideration to funding the link to Newport and beyond!
Posted by: Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire on 2:27pm Thu 17 Jul 08
js - you have no concept of how a rail timetable works do you? There are such things as "express" and "stopping" services. Increase the infrastructure capacity and you can have both...
js - you have no concept of how a rail timetable works do you? There are such things as "express" and "stopping" services. Increase the infrastructure capacity and you can have both...
Posted by: js, cardiff on 2:33pm Thu 17 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Owain Vaughan[/bold] wrote:
js - you have no concept of how a rail timetable works do you? There are such things as "express" and "stopping" services. Increase the infrastructure capacity and you can have both...[/quote] express and stopping services??? Owain there is only one track in most places!!!!!!
Owain Vaughan wrote:
js - you have no concept of how a rail timetable works do you? There are such things as "express" and "stopping" services. Increase the infrastructure capacity and you can have both...
express and stopping services??? Owain there is only one track in most places!!!!!!
Posted by: Al, Newport on 2:38pm Thu 17 Jul 08
[quote][bold]js[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Owain Vaughan[/bold] wrote:
js - you have no concept of how a rail timetable works do you? There are such things as "express" and "stopping" services. Increase the infrastructure capacity and you can have both...[/quote] express and stopping services??? Owain there is only one track in most places!!!!!![/quote] Well the station stop times will be minimal as not many passenegers, and the trains are already going slow through Newport anyway.
js wrote:
Owain Vaughan wrote:
js - you have no concept of how a rail timetable works do you? There are such things as "express" and "stopping" services. Increase the infrastructure capacity and you can have both...
express and stopping services??? Owain there is only one track in most places!!!!!!
Well the station stop times will be minimal as not many passenegers, and the trains are already going slow through Newport anyway.
Posted by: Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire on 2:45pm Thu 17 Jul 08
js - do you have the ability to read? I clearly wrote "Increase the infrastructure capacity". In any case, of the stations I listed in the Newport area, only Pye Corner (Bassaleg Junction) would be on the Ebbw Line.
js - do you have the ability to read? I clearly wrote "Increase the infrastructure capacity". In any case, of the stations I listed in the Newport area, only Pye Corner (Bassaleg Junction) would be on the Ebbw Line.
Posted by: js, cardiff on 2:55pm Thu 17 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Owain Vaughan[/bold] wrote:
js - do you have the ability to read? I clearly wrote "Increase the infrastructure capacity". In any case, of the stations I listed in the Newport area, only Pye Corner (Bassaleg Junction) would be on the Ebbw Line.[/quote] increase the infrastructure!!!!! and where does all this money come from to built new tracks new stations and run express and stopping services - get real for once man !!!!!
Owain Vaughan wrote:
js - do you have the ability to read? I clearly wrote "Increase the infrastructure capacity". In any case, of the stations I listed in the Newport area, only Pye Corner (Bassaleg Junction) would be on the Ebbw Line.
increase the infrastructure!!!!! and where does all this money come from to built new tracks new stations and run express and stopping services - get real for once man !!!!!
Posted by: Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire on 3:03pm Thu 17 Jul 08
It comes from THE ECONOMY. You see? You borrow money to build stuff, then people pay you to use the stuff you build and thereby you pay the money back and make a profit...
It comes from THE ECONOMY. You see? You borrow money to build stuff, then people pay you to use the stuff you build and thereby you pay the money back and make a profit...
Posted by: js, cardiff on 3:06pm Thu 17 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Owain Vaughan[/bold] wrote:
It comes from THE ECONOMY. You see? You borrow money to build stuff, then people pay you to use the stuff you build and thereby you pay the money back and make a profit...[/quote] have the checked THE ECONOMY lately????
I would love to live in your world where there is money to build and run all these services and you also make a profit - maybe you should be PM !!!!!!!
Owain Vaughan wrote:
It comes from THE ECONOMY. You see? You borrow money to build stuff, then people pay you to use the stuff you build and thereby you pay the money back and make a profit...
have the checked THE ECONOMY lately????
I would love to live in your world where there is money to build and run all these services and you also make a profit - maybe you should be PM !!!!!!!
Posted by: Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire on 3:20pm Thu 17 Jul 08
Here's a recent example of a rail scheme funded in exactly this way - the Ebbw Vale -> Cardiff service. Shows it can quite easily be done "my way".
Here's a recent example of a rail scheme funded in exactly this way - the Ebbw Vale -> Cardiff service. Shows it can quite easily be done "my way".
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