Just two days before a special celebration train service was due to be laid on this Friday, in readiness for the opening of the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff line to passengers on December 22, Assembly Deputy First Mininster, Ieuan Wyn Jones, issued a statement saying: "I have been informed this morning (December 12) that Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council has been unable to meet the agreed timetable for passenger services to commence before Christmas.

"The Council, which is responsible for delivering the Ebbw Valley project, has informed me that there are a number of outstanding issues that must be resolved before the track can be handed over to Network Rail.

"These relate to safety and engineering standards for track and signalling, which are mandatory before Arriva Trains Wales can commence driver training on the route to enable passenger services to start.

"Until this was brought to my attention earlier today, I had been assured by Blaenau Gwent and it’s delivery agents Capita Symonds that passenger services would begin before Christmas.

"Whilst I share the deep disappointment caused by this development, public safety has to come first.

"In these circumstances it is not appropriate to proceed until everyone is fully satisfied that these issues have been resolved by Blaenau Gwent and a safe and reliable service can begin.

"I intend holding an urgent meeting with the Council to press for an early resolution of these issues."

When contacted by the Gazette regarding the delay Robin Morrison, Chief Executive of Blaenau Gwent Council, said: “Blaenau Gwent Council were informed today, ( December 12), that contractors Amey were unable to satisfy Network Rail’s requirements for agreeing the handover of the Ebbw Valley Railway. Some of these concerns related to safety documentation.

“We were assured by all parties that the date of December 22 for commencement of services was achievable, and are bitterly disappointed that last minute issues have forced a delay after the amount of effort and commitment that the Council and its partners have put into the project.

“The Council’s Leadership and I are seeking a high level meeting with all the organisations involved in the project to address outstanding concerns and deliver the service at the earliest possible date.”

As reported only this week in the Gazette, Blaenau Gwent Assembly Member Trish Law, was present at the unveiling of a plaque at the Ebbw Vale station on Monday, in memory of her late husband Peter Law.

Mr Law tirelessly campaigned for the restoration of the passenger sevrice from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff after absence of more than 40 years.

Mrs Law said:"This bombshell announcement that the Ebbw Vale/Cardiff railway is not now to open on Friday beggars belief.

"If it was not such a deadly serious matter this would be the Christmas joke of all time.

"How can it be that we get an announcement like this just two days before the much-heralded official opening and 10 days before passenger services resume after an absence of 45 years?

"We are told that Blaenau Gwent Council still has a number of 'outstanding issues' and I understand it will cost £2 million to rectify these matters.

"I take safety issues very seriously, but how is it that Blaenau Gwent have only now told the Assembly government of their concerns?

"How is it that such elaborate arrangements were made before the line was given a clean bill of health? Who will finance the £2 million of work that needs doing? There are many questions that demand answers."There has been one delay after another over the years.

"What is certain is that this announcement is the most unwanted Christmas present of all."

News of the delay went down badly with Christmas shoppers in Ebbw Vale.

Mother-of-two Debra Clarke said: "This is ridiculous, people were expecting to to open this Friday.

"I know people were hoping to use the train to get some last minute shopping done.

"I live very close to the station so I will definitely use it when it opens, it's so annoying it has been put back again, they've had plenty of time to get it ready."

Diana James, of Brynmawr, uses the Rhymney rail service to get to Cardiff but had planned to use the new Ebbw Vale station when it opened.

"This is so disappointing," she said.

"It's about time they opened it now, I don't see why they give us these dates just to change their minds with a few days notice.

"I was looking forward to seeing the train service come back to Ebbw Vale, let's just hope they have it ready for the next date they give us."

See also:

Anger as £30m rail line delayed

BBC News: 12 December 2007

The cancellation of the opening of a £30m railway line between Ebbw Vale and Newport only two days before it was due has been strongly criticised.

Safety and engineering issues are said to have delayed the launch

Safety and engineering issues are said to have held up the project, and it is now due to open in the New Year.

Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said Blaenau Gwent Council, responsible for the project, had assured him services would start before Christmas.

The council said it was "bitterly disappointed" at the delay.

The scheme would restore a rail line to the town after 45 years.

It would link an area hit hard by a decline in heavy industry with Cardiff, via Newport.

An assembly government source told BBC Wales he spoke to a senior council official on Monday and was told: "We are not going to embarrass you. The railway will be 100% ready this week".

Blaenau Gwent AM Trish Law, an independent, said the cancellation "beggars belief" and described the announcement as a "bombshell".

She said: "If it was not such a deadly serious matter this would be the Christmas joke of all time.

"How can it be that we get an announcement like this just two days before the much-heralded official opening and 10 days before passenger services resume after an absence of 45 years?

"Who will finance the £2m of work that needs doing? There are many questions that demand answers."

The Ebbw Vale rail link scheme upgrades 18 miles of railway line for passenger services, restoring a link with Cardiff that was severed in 1962.

The project is a key part of the continued regeneration of the area following the closure of the Corus steel works in 2002.

Ebbw Vale's passenger rail link was severed in 1962

Mike German, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, accused the assembly government of a "series of broken promises".

He said: "The government have simply never given the line top priority."

Plaid AM Jocelyn Davies said the delay was a "huge disappointment in the area and a complete embarrassment for the Labour council".

She said: "They've had years to get this line up and running, and now, a couple of weeks before Christmas, they let everyone down."

Robin Morrison, chief executive of Blaenau Gwent Council, said: "We were assured by all parties that the date of 22 December for commencement of services was achievable, and are bitterly disappointed that last-minute issues have forced a delay.

"The council's leadership and I are seeking a high-level meeting with all the organisations involved in the project to address outstanding concerns and deliver the service at the earliest possible date."