Vale MP Alun Cairns is working with Lafarge and Network Rail to explore the reopening of the railway sidings at the quarries in Ewenny. The villages of St Brides Major, Wick and Ewenny endure frequent heavy lorry movements transporting stone from nearby quarries past Llantwit Major to the cement works at Aberthaw.
Mr Cairns wants the electrification upgrade of the railway line to be used as an opportunity to re-establish railway sidings that were discarded many years ago, and eradicate thousands of lorry movements from local roads from across the Vale.
Following meetings with the owners Lafarge Cement, the Vale MP believes he has spotted a real possibility of re-establishing the link on Network Rail lines between Ewenny and Aberthaw. Both sites still have the basic infrastructure to form the link and this would allow materials to be loaded at the quarry and deposited at the cement works.
Mr Cairns said: “The vehicle movement causes real problems in Wick and St Brides Major. Several constituents have told me that they have lost wing mirrors and seen other damage. We need to do all we can to shift movement on to rail.
“Having visited both sites recently it became apparent that both had an interest in better using the railway. I needed to confirm the intentions of all parties and then approach network rail to see what can be done. In addition, it is also a good time to plan new infrastructure in support of the future electrification of the of the train line of which I am a very strong supporter.”