Metro Plus: Abertillery Transport Hub
What is the project about?
A £50 million programme of schemes has been developed (Metro Plus Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Programme), which will support the implementation of the South Wales Metro.
The Metro Plus RTA Programme will see each Local Authority within South East Wales receive a £3million share to implement a scheme. Funding is being provided from Welsh Government (£15million) and from the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal (CCRCD) (£15million) to implement this programme. A further £20m is being funded by Local Authority and private investment.
The Abertillery Transport Interchange is a key project within the SE Wales Metro programme and has been in development for a number of years. The new Interchange and Spur will provide increased accessibility to and from the Ebbw Fach valley and improved connectivity with the wider region.
The project would provide a new railway line extension from Aberbeeg to Abertillery and the construction of a station at the southern end of the town centre.
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Economic Regeneration Impact
The Ebbw Valley Railway (EVR) has had a significant regeneration impact within Blaenau Gwent, increasing connectivity and accessibility to the wider region. The success of the EVR is demonstrated with the usage numbers far exceeding the number of passengers initially estimated, and the rail extension to Abertillery and park and ride for 100 vehicles is a much needed and welcome investment that will further increase the accessibility, connectivity and use of sustainable transport modes.
The success of the EVR is further supported with evidence from local employers who have altered shift patterns to cater for those employees travelling by train, and has opened up a range of options for local residents in terms of employment opportunities and access to services and facilities, both within Blaenau Gwent and in the wider region.
The extension to Abertillery will increase this further and has the potential to have a transformative impact for residents, businesses and the town centre itself through increased footfall, and enable residents to take advantage and maximise the impacts of other investments across the Capital Region.
Investment and leverage
£1.5m
CCR Investment
£3.5m
Match Funding
£tbc
Projected Leverage
The Metro Plus Phase 1 project is part of a much wider programme to increase frequency on the Ebbw Vale line and forms part of a wider bid for funding to the DfT under the ‘Restoring Railways’ Programme as part of the UK Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.
Funding has so far been used to acquire a parcel of land on which the station will be built and commence the design process through working with colleagues in TfW.
Expected benefits and outcomes
The extension of the EVR to Abertillery would increase the benefits gained from the delivery of the EVR and has the potential to have a transformative impact for residents, businesses and the town centre itself through increased footfall, and enable residents to take advantage and maximise the impacts of other investments across the Capital Region.
The new Interchange and Spur would provide increased accessibility to and from the Ebbw Fach valley and improved connectivity with the wider region.
Key deliverables
The project would provide a new railway line extension from Aberbeeg to Abertillery and the construction of a station at the southern end of the town centre.
Key partners and people involved
The following organisations are partners in the project:
Metro Plus Project Updates
- 11 March 2021
