South Wales 'Metro' updates

[Envoy]

Thought you would like to see the state of the Taff’s Well Metro depot as of today.

 

[positron]

Great news on the overheads progressing. A poster on here posted up a brilliant map showing all the lines that are wired including the sections with intermittent wiring. I don't suppose anyone has it and could post it again?

Thankyou in advance!

https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ don't suppose you mean this?

Or the electrification PDF?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Nov 2023 ==

I have a photo of that too! An almost completed island platform and a third track (out of sight)

Third track? I thought initially they were only doing the two tracks (original one and one new one).

I have been thinking for a while the current track placement seems too far across compared to the new island platform.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ don't suppose you mean this?

Or the electrification PDF?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Nov 2023 ==


Third track? I thought initially they were only doing the two tracks (original one and one new one).

I have been thinking for a while the current track placement seems too far across compared to the new island platform.

It seems there is a sort of siding there, which is what I mean by third track

 

[Geeves]

Thankyou Positron, it was the second map I was after, Cheers!

​

 

[positron]

It seems there is a sort of siding there, which is what I mean by third track

Interesting if it's the case that the platform edge isn't next to that new track (which as I said it's not seemed to be so far) it may be that they're putting in the proposed 3rd platform (at least the track) as part of the initial works.

The eventual plan is for 3 platforms to have two through platforms to extend along to Newport Road.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Interesting if it's the case that the platform edge isn't next to that new track (which as I said it's not seemed to be so far) it may be that they're putting in the proposed 3rd platform (at least the track) as part of the initial works.

The eventual plan is for 3 platforms to have two through platforms to extend along to Newport Road.

The plans show a very wide island platform, there is quite a bit left to build yet, it looks like it will reach the new track and will be made from the pre-cast concrete pieces stacked alongside. I don't think there's any plan for a 3rd track at this stage.

 

[RJ]

I go to work on this line and to my disgust, the rail replacement services are not only very far from the station and not well advertised (and way less frequent than the train), but they’re only running on weekdays! Why on earth is there no service on weekends?

Anyway, as you can see from these photos, Butetown station’s platforms are taking shape.

It’s one of my buses that’s covering the rail replacement service for the duration. Speaking to local drivers, in the past the replacement service wasn’t heavily patronised after about 10am so ticket acceptance on local buses should suffice.

As for stop locations, buses cannot really stop outside Queen Street station as it would disrupt traffic flow. The officially designated stops have been in Churchill Way for at least as long as I’ve been around which has been from January and that’s where the bus control staff always are.

 

[AdamWW]

As for stop locations, buses cannot really stop outside Queen Street station as it would disrupt traffic flow. The officially designated stops have been in Churchill Way for at least as long as I’ve been around which has been from January and that’s where the bus control staff always are.

I'm pretty sure that they used to manage, before the road past Queen Street became a permanent road works. There is after all a layby close to the station (which I think is now accessible again).

 

[CardiffKid]

There is after all a layby close to the station (which I think is now accessible again).

Not big enough for a bus though.

Honestly if you need to travel to the Bay, stay on the train to Central and take the No 6.

 

[AdamWW]

Not big enough for a bus though.

There used to be one that was on the same side as the station. Maybe it's disappeared now.

Honestly if you need to travel to the Bay, stay on the train to Central and take the No 6.

Most of the day passengers are indeed expected to get the number 6. As previously stated the replacement only runs until around 9 am and late at night.

It might help some people if TfW pointed out that Central station is handier than Queen Street for the number 6.

 

[Envoy]

I think the Cardiff Bus 6 now goes from the south side of the Library and not St.Mary Street,

 

[CardiffKid]

There used to be one that was on the same side as the station. Maybe it's disappeared now.

Still there, but it's not big enough for a bus, especially a rail replacement bus, it's about half the width of a bus, fine for a service bus dropping someone off, but not for stopping and collecting passengers.

I think the Cardiff Bus 6 now goes from the south side of the Library and not St.Mary Street,

It does, it goes from the library to the back/south of the station then on to the Bay. Transfers from train to bus are the same now as they were when I moved to Cardiff over a decade ago.

 

[Signal_Box]

If you go down to Cardiff central tonight (now) your in for a big..small surprise…

TramTrain testing Taff Wells to Central and back via the City line.

I have to say they look comical in person, a tiny little 3 vehicle contraption not even as long as a 150. Don’t learn on the side or you might tip it over !

 

[mrmartin]

any update on the construction of Crwys Road station? i believe it was meant to start by the end of the year?

 

[sefyllian]

any update on the construction of Crwys Road station? i believe it was meant to start by the end of the year?

From TfW on Twitter, on 6 November:

We are currently undertaking preliminary surveys and ground work our new Crwys Road station and you should hear more about this in the future.

 

[JamieB44]

https://news.tfw.wales/news/more-valley-railway-lines-electrified-for-metro



Seems the last bit of electrification from Aberdare to Cwmbach has been completed now.

No, the support structures are up, but no wires between Aberdare & Cwmbach.
I have been told by one of the ticket office staff that the line will be closed for a week around Christmas to complete it.

 

[Bob Price]

Post bases and masts taken from the bridge just south of Heath Junction this lunchtime

 

[Last Hurrah]

Out of curiosity, how close to Cardiff University Cubic Brain Research facility (next to Cathays station), can overhead wiring go before it affects their sensitive computers ?

Did the ‘sensitivity exclusion ring surrounding the Cubic Research facility impact the nearby Rhymney Line where both lines merge before Queen St station ?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

If you go down to Cardiff central tonight (now) your in for a big..small surprise…

TramTrain testing Taff Wells to Central and back via the City line.

I have to say they look comical in person, a tiny little 3 vehicle contraption not even as long as a 150. Don’t learn on the side or you might tip it over !

Gutted to have missed this. Please do share if it happens again!

 

[j2002]

Gutted to have missed this. Please do share if it happens again!

Are they the very early morning paths that run at the moment? ie 3Q21, 3Q22 etc... https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...23-11-16/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

[Bob Price]

Are they the very early morning paths that run at the moment? ie 3Q21, 3Q22 etc... https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...23-11-16/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

Yes they are. Run by GBRF. There will probably be more next week.

 

[Signal_Box]

Gutted to have missed this. Please do share if it happens again!

Happened again last night but via Queen Street, there was also a 756 test running between Pontypridd and Central.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Happened again last night but via Queen Street, there was also a 756 test running between Pontypridd and Central.

The latter is exceptionally good news and as a resident of Cathays I look forward to them running in service for a few months

 

[j2002]

Yes they are. Run by GBRF. There will probably be more next week.

Thank you, I'll head out tonight to Taffs Well to get some pictures.

 

[positron]

Out of curiosity, how close to Cardiff University Cubic Brain Research facility (next to Cathays station), can overhead wiring go before it affects their sensitive computers ?

Did the ‘sensitivity exclusion ring surrounding the Cubic Research facility impact the nearby Rhymney Line where both lines merge before Queen St station ?

That could explain why the Rhymney line wiring doesn't start for a while (starts close to heath junction). But the distance from cubric to that line would be large enough that I'd question if Cardiff uni should even be allowed that level of control (I think it's pretty silly they have any) over such a large area of public infrastructure.

I hope the real reason is probably some bridges such as Crwys Road being too low.

Also if they were that sensitive wouldn't heath hospital being close to the Rhymney line also cause issues?

 

[Signal_Box]

Thank you, I'll head out tonight to Taffs Well to get some pictures.

It’s running again tonight, 2nd trip on its way down from Radyr via Queen St.

 

[MikePJ]

Here’s Butetown station, with platform fencing and access ramps now taking shape.

 

[60159]

https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ don't suppose you mean this?

Or the electrification PDF?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Nov 2023 ==


Third track? I thought initially they were only doing the two tracks (original one and one new one).

I have been thinking for a while the current track placement seems too far across compared to the new island platform.

Pardon my ignorance, I didn’t realise that such a detailed rail map existed.
Its brilliant.
Thanks.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

View attachment 146980

Here’s Butetown station, with platform fencing and access ramps now taking shape.

I've had to walk past it daily to get to work as they usually don't bother putting a replacement bus on.

 

[AdamWW]

I've had to walk past it daily to get to work as they usually don't bother putting a replacement bus on.

That's because arranging ticket acceptance with Cardiff Bus is a perfectly good substitute for trains. Apparently.