Trains have started running again between Ebbw Vale Town and Newport, after a long project to upgrade the line so that it had enough capacity for Newport services as well as those to Cardiff Central.

Deputy climate change minister Lee Waters is launching the new service today at Llanhilleth station.

Thirty trains a day will now run between Newport and Ebbw Vale, after the Welsh Government lent £70 million to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council to pay for infrastructure improvements, which included more passing loops.

Lee Waters said: ‘I’m so pleased the service between Ebbw Vale and Newport is finally in place. It has taken a long time and required a lot of investment but the doubling of the frequency of trains will make a difference to all the communities along the route. This would not have happened without the Welsh Government stepping in with investment.

‘At a time when we are used to big infrastructure projects going over time and over budget we should applaud the fact this complicated project has been on time and within budget. My huge thanks to Blaenau Gwent council, Network Rail and Transport for Wales for working together to pull this off.

Passenger services to Ebbw Vale restarted in 2008 after they had been withdrawn in 1962. Stations were reopened at Rogerstone, Risca and Pontymister, Crosskeys, Newbridge, Llanhilleth and then at a new park and ride site, Ebbw Vale Parkway.

New trains are due to be introduced on the line in the spring.