RAIL chiefs are doubling the capacity of a commuter service between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff, as figures show overall passenger numbers have reached almost three quarters of a million a year.

Train company Arriva pledged to beef up the Ebbw Vale line, which has seen journeys soar from around 105,000 in its first year in 2008 to about 770,000 in 2011and around 772,000 last year.

Most trains on the line have two carriages but the operator is this week strengthening the capacity of its 16.35 Cardiff to Ebbw Vale service to four carriages, which will be able to accommodate nearly 300 commuters.

In March Arriva boosted the capacity of some of its trains from two to four carriages for two weeks as part of a trial but later went back to two carriages.

An Arriva spokesman said: “We always look to strengthen services across our network in line with customer demand, aiming to use our finite fleet to maximum efficiency.

“On March 4 we trialled a four-carriage service for two weeks. Following a review, we then trialled a three-carriage service which was then deemed sufficient to meet the demand for the Ebbw Vale services in question at that time.”