Newport Station in Wales, newly-extended platform No. 4 was officially opened on 29 June 2007 by Dr Brian Gibbons, the new Minister for the Economy & Transport in Wales. The extension to the platform is part of Network Rail's wider investment to improve train performance and make services more reliable between South Wales and London Paddington over the next few years. Network Rail has already opened new platforms at Swindon and Bristol Parkway to reduce operating problems on the GW route.

The £5.5 million platform 4 has been funded by Network Rail to improve train travel to and from Newport towards Cardiff and London, it is a bi-directional road.

Robbie Burns, Network Rail's Western Route Director, said: "As part of our wider investment in the railway in Wales, we are really pleased to have led this project. The new platform will ease congestion and passengers will see an improvement in the reliability of trains passing through the station."

Robbie Burns, Dr Brian Gibbons, guests and media arrived at Newport Station on Network Rail's New Measurement Train (NMT), the first train to use the newly-extended platform. The NMT, designed for assessing the condition of the track throughout the UK , made a special run from Cardiff, departing at 11.00.

Dr Brian Gibbons, Minister for the Economy and Transport said: "Network Rail’s investment in extending Platform 4 and improving the station facilities is good news for commuters using this line. The extended platform will accommodate longer trains, improving train capacity and easing congestion at peak times. This work will also improve passenger facilities and is the first step towards a wider improvement programme for Newport Station which is due to be completed prior to the Ryder cup in 2010."

As part of the £5.5 million project, passengers will now benefit from new waiting facilities, state-of-the-art information systems, modern security systems and improved lighting, on Platform 4.

Mike Bagshaw, Commercial Director for Arriva Trains Wales, said: "Newport is a busy station and an important interchange. This investment in an additional platform will improve reliability of services by easing congestion for trains coming into the station."

As part of the works to provide the new platform 4, the EWS loco stabling facility at Godfrey Road was transferred to Newport Alexandra Dock Junction.

Considerable work is still to be done at other parts of Newport station to build a new ticket office and passenger area, redevelopment to the rear of the new platform 4 is still ongoing.

The first passenger trains are booked to use the new platform from Monday 4 July 2007.