TRADERS say getting the rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport is essential for their survival after new figures revealed more than 1.3 million passengers have used the service to Cardiff.

But business owners say without the link into the city, people are choosing to go to Cardiff to shop at a cost to Newport.

The Argus has been campaigning for eight years for the Newport link to be opened - to ensure Ebbw Valley residents have a link to shopping and work opportunities in the city.

Latest figures from Arriva Trains Wales show 1,366,597 passengers have used the hourly service between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff since it opened in February 2008.

Passengers from the Ebbw Valley currently have to travel to Cardiff and change to get to Newport, or get a service bus from Rogerstone to the city centre after the rail link buses which linked Rogerstone to Newport and Ebbw Vale parkway to the town centre were scrapped.

Part-owner of AD Turner & Sons butchers in Newport Market, Mike Turner, 41, said: "We used to have a hell of a trade come from the Valleys but without this rail link we're being bypassed by everything and everyone - the small trade is dying. It's about convenience, people want to get off the train, do their shopping and get back on.

"Newport market is hanging on by the skin of teeth and this would bring trade to us - it's a survival fight. This is essential, we're desperate - we need people to come in here."

Manager at Timpsons, Kelvin Reddicliffe, 55, who has worked in the shop for 40 years, said traders were "fighting for every penny."

He added: "It's very important to get this done, it would make a big difference. It is a struggle and this would help Newport fantastically - this is something we really need, let's get the infrastructure of the city centre right."

Sue Williams, owner of Elbow Room hairdressers, said: "It's very important to get this link, anything to get people into Newport is a good thing, the general opinion is to go to Cardiff because the train goes there - this is taking people away from Newport who would normally come here."

Owner of skateboard shop Freestyle, Darren Ward, 34, said Newport businesses lose customers from the Valleys who choose the convenience of Cardiff.

He added: "It would be great to get this rail link and bring more customers to the town from the Valleys which we can't get at the moment."

The Assembly said its National Transport Plan commits to improving the Gaer junction by 2011 which will be followed by a feasibility study for hourly services from Ebbw Vale to Newport, expected to be finished by early next year.

As well as the signalling work, a second £22.5 million track is needed between Llanhilleth and Crosskeys to allow trains to pass on the line before a Newport service could start.

An announcement on when trains will start running is expected "shortly", transport minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said.

Service is runaway success

The Ebbw Valley service was a runaway success when it opened.

The Assembly predicted 150,000 passengers in the first year, rising to 453,000 after four years. However, 532,528 passengers used the service in 2008 and 635,828 in 2009.

The millionth passenger got on board in October last year when it was predicted it would take four years to reach this milestone.

The line re-opened after a £30 million project saw 18 miles of existing track put back in use as part of plans to regenerate Blaenau Gwent.

The hourly service between Ebbw Vale Parkway and Cardiff Central also stops at Llanhilleth, Newbridge, Crosskeys, Risca and Pontymister and Rogerstone. Newport East AM John Griffiths said: "It's absolutely crucial for Newport and Ebbw Vale that we get this link in place as quickly as possible.

Traditionally, Newport was the primary shopping and leisure destination for people from Ebbw Vale, now a lot of them are going to Cardiff because the link is there.

"I think all of us are frustrated it hasn't happened but we've got to keep the pressure on."

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Time to get back on track

IN all the years we campaigned for a rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport, not one person gave us a reasonable explanation as to why it couldn’t happen.

Today is no different.

We have been given countless reasons as to why the link could not be opened at the same time as the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff line. And we remained unconvinced by any of them.

Today traders tell us that getting the rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport is essential for their survival after new figures showed more than 1.3 million passengers have used the service to Cardiff since it opened.

Business owners say without the link into the city, people are choosing to go to Cardiff to shop at a cost to Newport.

We firmly believe that the link never happened because of a lack of political will remain unconvinced by any of them.

The rail link between Ebbw Vale and Newport is vital and Ebbw Vale has much more of a natural affinity with Newport.

Not to have the rail link opened is short sighted and in our view completely illogical and we cannot understand why so much time has been wasted in the past few years.

Surely it is now time this was sorted once and for all.

Let’s not hear anymore about feasibility studies or problems with signalling.

For the sake of the people and traders, get it sorted now.