A DATE for the opening of the £30 million Ebbw Vale to Cardiff rail link could be announced within a fortnight, the Argus understands.

An Assembly spokesman said that "good progress" has been made on the troubled section of track over the Christmas and New Year period.

The Argus understands all of the outstanding problems have now been solved, and that an official inspection by Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate is set to take place within a fortnight to give the final approval to begin passenger services.

The long-awaited opening of the line was cancelled before Christmas because of outstanding infrastructure works.

The track was officially handed over to Network Rail, and driver training was started, but there has been no word on an opening date.

After a meeting of all parties on Wednesday, an Assembly spokesman told the Argus: "A lot of good progress has been made since December and those outstanding issues were satisfactorily completed.

"There's a few things that still need to be completed before we can sort out a date for passenger services.

"When we are in a position to announce the start of services we will."

Assembly deputy first minister and transport minister Ieuan Wyn Jones was questioned on the rail link in an Assembly meeting, but could only tell AMs that more information will be available soon.

South Wales East AM Mike German said: "This drip, drip of information simply isn't good enough.

"At the very least, people deserve to know when they will be able to take a train to Cardiff."

Blaenau Gwent MP Dai Davies urged those in charge of the project to tell people if there is no chance of opening in the near future.

He said: "People are asking me day by day when will the railway be open and at the moment we need to put it into the back of our minds, until it does open we can't frustrate ourselves by worrying about it."