TWO new railway stations on the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff rail link were given Planning consent .

The stations, in Llanhilleth and Ebbw Vale, are part of the first phase of the railway link between Cardiff and Ebbw Vale.

The Argus has run a Get Us Back on Track campaign for the past three years, calling for a passenger line from Ebbw Vale to Newport city centre to open at the same time as the Cardiff link.

It is currently set to open in 2009.

Blaenau Gwent councillor Dennis Owens, executive member for creating jobs and skills, said: "This is another big milestone in the railway project.

"Each step brings us closer to the restoration of a regular service, which is so vital in providing our valleys with the infrastructure required for the economic regeneration we are driving forward."

The new Ebbw Vale station will be in the Garden Festival car park, on Glan Ebbw Terrace, Victoria, while Llanhilleth's is on land at the back of Commercial Road in the town.

The stations will each have a single platform, with shelters, seating, and two-way electronic passenger help points.

Both will have park and ride parking, with space for setting down and picking up passengers, as well as secure bicycle storage.

The car park at Ebbw Vale Parkway will hold around 100 vehicles, with Llanhilleth having more than 50 spaces.

Four of the six stations along the Ebbw Valley line have now been granted planning permission: Ebbw Vale Parkway, Llanhilleth, Newbridge and Rogerstone.

Planning applications are being considered by Caerphilly council for the two remaining stations at Crosskeys and Risca.

The plans for these can be viewed at Caerphilly's planning department in Pontllanfraith.

The re-introduction of passenger trains on the Ebbw Valley railway line is supported by the councils of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Newport plus the Assembly administration.

Capita Symonds is managing the design work and procurement for the stations on behalf of the three Gwent authorities.

Construction work for the rail project is scheduled to begin in Spring 2006 and passenger services are due to commence in Spring 2007, with an hourly passenger service to Cardiff.