National Assembly Member Mohammad Asghar questioned the First Minister on the Welsh Assembly Government’s failure to open a direct rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport in the Senedd on Tuesday.
Mr Asghar, who represents South Wales East, highlighted how the One Wales Agreement pledged the “development of better transport links” and aimed to ensure that “travelling between communities is both easy and sustainable”. He noted that the opening of “a direct rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport would have been a key step in delivering this commitment”.
Mr Asghar added: “The Welsh Assembly Government said in September 2008 that the service would be fully operational for the 2010 Eisteddfod and the Ryder Cup” and asked the First Minister whether he regarded the constant delays to the rail link as “a hugely disappointing step in the delivery of WAG’s ‘One Wales’ programme”.
The South Wales East AM also asked the First Minister to outline how quickly his Government would act upon a feasibility study from Network Rail; the findings of which are expected to be published in March.
