Cardiff and Valley lines

142094 · 17th July 2012, 21:21

I may be down in Wales at some point, and looking to see if it is possible to do all the lines on the Valley Lines day ticket in one day. At the minute I'm debating whether to do this on a weekday (and therefore after 09.15), or get up early on a weekend to do them all.

David Goddard · 17th July 2012, 21:25

We did think about doing the Valleys on our ALR. Planned most of it and yes it should be possible in one day.
The only reason we didnt cover on our ALR as becuase we did the First Class one and to spend a day on the valleys would have been a waste of First Class.

Michael.Y · 17th July 2012, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Goddard

We did think about doing the Valleys on our ALR. Planned most of it and yes it should be possible in one day.
The only reason we didnt cover on our ALR as becuase we did the First Class one and to spend a day on the valleys would have been a waste of First Class.

Pfft. ATW Pacers are First Class throughout! Some of the seats even have numbers in the headrests

richw · 17th July 2012, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael.Y

Pfft. ATW Pacers are First Class throughout! Some of the seats even have numbers in the headrests

What telephone numbers drawn on by people trying to get laid?

Michael.Y · 17th July 2012, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by richw

What telephone numbers drawn on by people trying to get laid?

People in Cardiff aren't THAT desperate.

They'd at least wait for a 150....

Ivo · 17th July 2012, 22:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by 142094

I may be down in Wales at some point, and looking to see if it is possible to do all the lines on the Valley Lines day ticket in one day. At the minute I'm debating whether to do this on a weekday (and therefore after 09.15), or get up early on a weekend to do them all.

It most certainly is, but you would be better off aiming for a weekend to maximise your chances.

When I planned such a day in March last year (which didn't happen in the end) I had it down as about 12 hours without Ebbw Vale.

142094 · 18th July 2012, 13:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivo

It most certainly is, but you would be better off aiming for a weekend to maximise your chances.

When I planned such a day in March last year (which didn't happen in the end) I had it down as about 12 hours without Ebbw Vale.

12 hours does seem quite intense. One strategy would be to split over two days, so doing a couple of the lines on one day then using the Rover ticket for the next.

Ivo · 18th July 2012, 13:35

If you're interested, here's what I had (on a Saturday, allowing for travel to and from Bath, with one dodgy connection and one walk):

CDF 0946 - 1001 PEN
PEN 1002 - 1116 RHY
RHY 1129 - 1219 HHL
HLL 1230 - 1243 COY
COY 1245 - 1324 RDR
RDR 1325 - 1416 ABA
ABA 1422 - 1453 PPD
PPD 1506 - 1543 TRB
TRB 1547 - 1617 PPD
PPD 1627 - 1701 MER
MER 1708 - 1840 BYI
BYI 1840 - 1845 BRY
BRY 1905 - 1939 BGN
BGN 1945 - 2011 MST
MST 2015 - 2107 CDF
CDB 2130 - 2134 CDQ
CDQ 2142 - 2151 CDF

142094 · 18th July 2012, 13:52

Suppose that's not too bad, although if I was doing it on a Saturday I'd more than likely try to get at train as early as 06.00.

Drsatan · 19th July 2012, 13:20

Last year I was able to bash around 60-70% of the Valley Lines network in a day. I arrived at CDF from EXD at around 09:50 and left at 18:30 (booked an AP single so I couldn't afford to miss the train!)

All I need to cover is the Coryton branch, Ystrad Mynach - Rhymney, Pontypridd - Trehebert, the Maesteg & Ebbw Vale branches!

One line I'd recommend bashing is Cardiff - Bridgend via Barry - the line runs along the coast, past Barry and past Aberdare power station.

anthony263 · 19th July 2012, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drsatan

Last year I was able to bash around 60-70% of the Valley Lines network in a day. I arrived at CDF from EXD at around 09:50 and left at 18:30 (booked an AP single so I couldn't afford to miss the train!)

All I need to cover is the Coryton branch, Ystrad Mynach - Rhymney, Pontypridd - Trehebert, the Maesteg & Ebbw Vale branches!

One line I'd recommend bashing is Cardiff - Bridgend via Barry - the line runs along the coast, past Barry and past Aberdare power station.

The vale of glamorgan is very scenic and is something I reconmend.
The Ebbw Vale branch is fine as well.

Truth be told I think the valley lines will be better when they are operated by dmu's as you wont have the noicy diesel engines

17th July 2012, 21:21	#1
142094 142 aficionado Established Member Join Date: 7 Nov 2009 Location: Newcastle Posts: 7,717	Cardiff and Valley lines I may be down in Wales at some point, and looking to see if it is possible to do all the lines on the Valley Lines day ticket in one day. At the minute I'm debating whether to do this on a weekday (and therefore after 09.15), or get up early on a weekend to do them all. __________________ Stand Clear of the Doors, Please.

17th July 2012, 21:25	#2
David Goddard Member Join Date: 8 Aug 2011 Location: Reading Posts: 491	We did think about doing the Valleys on our ALR. Planned most of it and yes it should be possible in one day. The only reason we didnt cover on our ALR as becuase we did the First Class one and to spend a day on the valleys would have been a waste of First Class. __________________ Owner of 150103 (first kop) and 47406 (The original "Rail Riders" locomotive)

18th July 2012, 13:35	#8
Ivo Starmie Established Member Join Date: 8 Jan 2010 Location: Bath (or Southend) Posts: 7,057	If you're interested, here's what I had (on a Saturday, allowing for travel to and from Bath, with one dodgy connection and one walk): CDF 0946 - 1001 PEN PEN 1002 - 1116 RHY RHY 1129 - 1219 HHL HLL 1230 - 1243 COY COY 1245 - 1324 RDR RDR 1325 - 1416 ABA ABA 1422 - 1453 PPD PPD 1506 - 1543 TRB TRB 1547 - 1617 PPD PPD 1627 - 1701 MER MER 1708 - 1840 BYI BYI 1840 - 1845 BRY BRY 1905 - 1939 BGN BGN 1945 - 2011 MST MST 2015 - 2107 CDF CDB 2130 - 2134 CDQ CDQ 2142 - 2151 CDF __________________ Official Member of the Bath & Wells FirstGroup Bus Customer Panel Starmie

18th July 2012, 13:52	#9
142094 142 aficionado Established Member Join Date: 7 Nov 2009 Location: Newcastle Posts: 7,717	Suppose that's not too bad, although if I was doing it on a Saturday I'd more than likely try to get at train as early as 06.00. __________________ Stand Clear of the Doors, Please.

19th July 2012, 13:20	#10
Drsatan Established Member Join Date: 24 Aug 2009 Location: Land of the Sprinters Posts: 1,408	Last year I was able to bash around 60-70% of the Valley Lines network in a day. I arrived at CDF from EXD at around 09:50 and left at 18:30 (booked an AP single so I couldn't afford to miss the train!) All I need to cover is the Coryton branch, Ystrad Mynach - Rhymney, Pontypridd - Trehebert, the Maesteg & Ebbw Vale branches! One line I'd recommend bashing is Cardiff - Bridgend via Barry - the line runs along the coast, past Barry and past Aberdare power station.