PEOPLE in Ebbw Vale are backing our Get Us Back on Track campaign to open the rail link from the town to Newport at the same time, or before, the Cardiff link.

The backing came on Saturday, at the start of a series of exhibitions to be held across Blaenau Gwent and the former Islwyn area on the new rail link.

Dozens of people turned out in Ebbw Vale at the weekend to see the exhibition of the first six railway stations planned for the route.

And Blaenau Gwent county borough council has told us that capital backing for the £27.2 million project could be secured by the end of this month.

A total of £7 million has already been pledged from the Corus Regeneration Fund and £7.5 million is expected in Objective 1 money. The rest of the cash is expected to come from Welsh Assembly sources, particularly its transport grant.

Revenue support funding of £2 million a year is also needed, however, and a bid for this money is being considered by the Strategic Rail Authority.

* The other exhibitions will be in the following locations, each starting at 10am.

Brewsters public house at Festival Park, Victoria, Ebbw Vale, today, January 20

Tesco at Abertillery, tomorrow, January 21

Llanhilleth Institute on Wednesday, January 22

Newbridge Leisure Centre on Thursday, January 23

Gladstone Street car park, Crosskeys on Friday, January 24

Oxford House in Risca on Tuesday, January 28

Morrisons car park in Rogerstone on Wednesday, January 29

Newport Central Library in John Frost Square on Saturday, February 1.