CONSULTATION closes next week on multi-million pound proposals to completely overhaul the South East Wales rail network.

Sewta, the South East Wales Transport Alliance board have proposed wide ranging changes including, new stations in Gwent at at Abertillery, Crumlin, Caerleon, Lanwern, Pye Crorner and Coedkernew/St Mellons as well as joining up Caerphilly and Newport via a new station at Machen, and extending the line from Ebbw Vale Parkway into a new Ebbw Vale Town station.

It would also see increased services along the Rhymney and Ebbw Valley lines, as well as the Chepstow and Abergavenny mainlines taking in stations like Severn Tunnel Junction, Cwmbran and Pontypool and New Inn.

The project would cost close to £20 million a year to run and would rely on funding from people like the Welsh and UK Governments and partner agencies like Network Rail.

Sewta is made up of 10 local authorities from across South East Wales with all five Gwent authorities providing board members.

The plans so far have won strong support from the Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle and Blaenau Gwent’s Alun Davies.

To find out more about the plans and to have your say visit www.sewta.gov.uk

Consultation closes on September 30.