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New railway station at Energlyn to meet Caerphilly demand

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The new station at Energlyn will have step-free access and two platforms

Growing demand for trains in Caerphilly has prompted plans to open a new ^5.2m station north of the town centre.

Building work will start later this year on a station to serve the growing community around Energlyn and Churchill Park.

It will provide direct trains to Cardiff and Rhymney up to twice an hour when it opens at the end of the year.

It is part of wider plans to improve Valley Lines services ahead of the electrification of the network by 2019.

The station - to be built between Aber and Llanbradach - also aims to ease congestion on roads, according to Network Rail.

"This proposal is driven by our plans to transform the railway in Wales and, when delivered, will mark a huge improvement for Energlyn and Churchill Park," said route director Mark Langman.

"Caerphilly county borough has seen a steady increase in passenger demand in recent years and the new station will cater for this growth and encourage sustainable travel, whilst also helping to improve the local economy."

Economy and Transport Minister Edwina Hart added: "Investing in our transport infrastructure is vital as we look to improve the economic competitiveness of Wales."

The new station will have two platforms and step-free access, along with car parking, CCTV and real-time train information.

The Welsh European Funding Office has helped to fund the station, which has been developed jointly by the Welsh government, Network Rail, Caerphilly council, South East Wales Transport Authority (Sewta) and Arriva Trains Wales (ATW).

Sorry not that computer savy so cant get it like a quote

Good to see this station finally being built after all these years.

I wonder how long we have to wait before we see stations at Brackla, Pye Cornner etc being built.

Looks like Energlyn will be served by the services which run to Rhymney and one which terminates at Bargoed currently but will be extended to Rhymney once the passing loop at Tirphil is completed and ATW have enough rolling stock.

Be good to see some progress on the Ebbw Vale - Newport service too...

I also remember,back in the 80's, Alcan were trying to reduce their dependancy on road transport for their ingots are were discussing linking the site to the rail network which ran very close by. From memory this was a different spur of the line that is being talked about here though.

Pye Corner, Newport, railway station plans revealed

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The new station would have a single platform and a 62 space car park

Plans for a new railway station near Newport on the line between Cardiff and Ebbw Vale have been revealed.

Newport council and Network Rail say a station at Pye Corner, near Rogerstone, would allow journeys into Cardiff and in the longer term to Newport. It would also offer alternative transport into the city for travellers on already congested routes, they said. But some residents and councillors are worried that the wrong location is being earmarked for the station.

The proposal is part of a project that began in 2008 with the re-opening of the Ebbw Valley line between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff. Businesses in Newport have long called for the line to be extended to the city over fears they were being overlooked by those in the Welsh capital.

A planning application proposes a station with a single platform, although a second could be added later. A 62-space car park would be created along with a new roundabout to provide access to the site on Western Valley Road.

Some residents have raised concerns about the location and time-scale of the project which, if approved, could be completed by the end of the year. They are also worried about noise and light pollution, increased traffic, and say car cruisers and youths could congregate in the car park.

Chris Evans, a Newport councillor for Rogerstone, claimed there had been a lack of consultation on the plans and said the scheme felt "rushed". He said he could see the benefits of the station but called for a delay in approving the application. "We should be working with residents and not against them and let's, at the very least, delay approving this application so that the rights of the elderly and disabled, and the safety of our children, can be properly and positively ensured via sensible discussion," he said.

The Ebbw Valley line is among the south Wales valleys and commuter rail services to be electrified between 2014 and 2019 as part of a ^350m investment.

The Pye Corner scheme was awarded a ^2.5m grant from the UK government in September 2013 and the Welsh government is adding ^1m.

The application is recommended for approval. It will be discussed by Newport council's planning committee on 5 February.

I wont be too surprised if there has been someone living near Melksham who has been moaning about the extra services being too noisy.