South Wales 'Metro' updates

[positron]

Just a quick addition to say that a new consultation has appeared to close the Cwmbargoed line for a minimum of three years. This will include disconnecting the remaining signalling on the branch. There's no immediate plan to do anything further with the branch - it's well down TfW's list of priorities for a passenger service, and given the drama over the closure of the mine and lack of promised land restoration, it seems extremely unlikely that it will be used to bring in landfill material.

It is a bit of a shame to have a rail asset going to waste when the southern portion to Nelson could be reinstated and probably get some usage, but without significant funding the line will probably be permanently mothballed.

 

[MikePJ]

It is a bit of a shame to have a rail asset going to waste when the southern portion to Nelson could be reinstated and probably get some usage, but without significant funding the line will probably be permanently mothballed.

Presumably the track would need relaying anyway to get a decent line speed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 May 2025 ==

It's looking great. I used to commute there until about eighteen months ago and I was always excited to see the second platform completed. When the third track and platform come about it will look brilliant, like a mini third city centre hub.

It’s certainly going to be unique, with its wide, flat, ungated pedestrian crossings and 25kV overhead! There’s also a new building that’ll go in on the platform - with rounded ends:

 

[CapitalStar378]

Some sort of canopy would be nice, it's not like south Wales is a dry region

 

[Jantra]

Some sort of canopy would be nice, it's not like south Wales is a dry region

Agreed, they are putting in/have put in numerous new TfW branded shelters at other station, why not 4 or 5 of them along the platform, or possibly even more as there will be people streaming out of local venues with umbrellas and helium balloons, while the frantic security staff are shouting at them in an air raid warden voice "put that brolly down, don't you know there's 25kv above you"

PS
That building will be closed when the station is not staffed, i.e. the majority of the time.

 

[Daniel Boone]

Some cables are up between Caerffili and Aber.

 

[MikePJ]

Agreed, they are putting in/have put in numerous new TfW branded shelters at other station, why not 4 or 5 of them along the platform, or possibly even more as there will be people streaming out of local venues with umbrellas and helium balloons, while the frantic security staff are shouting at them in an air raid warden voice "put that brolly down, don't you know there's 25kv above you"

PS
That building will be closed when the station is not staffed, i.e. the majority of the time.

There are two new platform shelters on the platform already - just visible on the right of his picture. I agree that a large canopy would have been nice, but a) it costs more, both to build and to maintain b) the visual impact would have been huge so I expect there would have been planning objections c) with the station largely unstaffed, a large area of shelter would be at risk of attracting rough sleepers and antisocial behaviour. So I can see why TfW would have been reluctant to install one.

 

[Jantra]

There are two new platform shelters on the platform already - just visible on the right of his picture. I agree that a large canopy would have been nice, but a) it costs more, both to build and to maintain b) the visual impact would have been huge so I expect there would have been planning objections c) with the station largely unstaffed, a large area of shelter would be at risk of attracting rough sleepers and antisocial behaviour. So I can see why TfW would have been reluctant to install one.

View attachment 180929

The platform looks enormous and could at least accommodate an 8/12 carriage train. I know the on street cross rail isn't going to be built any time soon to connect it to CDF. Maybe even the new arena is finished before it is finally built.

This maybe a bit of a crazy suggestion...

But could you run a shuttle from CDB up to CDQ then it splits and the rear section reverse and goes on to CDF ? i.e. it already has two drivers to speed things up. Whole process could repeat, i.e. re-couple back at CDQ for the return run down to CDB if required. I have seen the Maesteg train split at central and they now have it down to a fine art.
There is the track infrastructure and points, but I'm not sure about the logistics of it crossing so many lines and the disruption to other services that may result.
But you could move a lot of people in a relatively short period of time.

 

[CapitalStar378]

A new video summarising work on the Metro has just been posted on YouTube

It mentions a new station at Butetown and that electrification of the Rhymney and Bay lines will be completed in the next 18 months. No mention of Crwys Road.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

A new video summarising work on the Metro has just been posted on YouTube

It mentions a new station at Butetown and that electrification of the Rhymney and Bay lines will be completed in the next 18 months. No mention of Crwys Road.

18 months is shocking.

 

[Philip Roberts]

A new video summarising work on the Metro has just been posted on YouTube

It mentions a new station at Butetown and that electrification of the Rhymney and Bay lines will be completed in the next 18 months. No mention of Crwys Road.

I asked TfW about Crwys Road (as well as Gabalfa) a few months ago. This was the response:

"Concerning your query about the proposed stations in Cardiff, these remain future aspirations, and I am unable to confirm any dates at present, as these are still in the early stages."

A bit concerning. I know Gabalfa is still a while away but I was expecting work on Crwys Road to start this year (it's had planning permission).

 

[CapitalStar378]

I asked TfW about Crwys Road (as well as Gabalfa) a few months ago. This was the response:

"Concerning your query about the proposed stations in Cardiff, these remain future aspirations, and I am unable to confirm any dates at present, as these are still in the early stages."

A bit concerning. I know Gabalfa is still a while away but I was expecting work on Crwys Road to start this year (it's had planning permission).

That's a bit duplicitous when planned opening years (albeit constantly put back) for Crwys Rd had been released by TfW, as well as the planning signed off. I assume it's a financial decision.

 

[positron]

Calling them future aspirations when both of them were franchise commitments and one of them was envisaged to be part of the core metro works is crazy. I'm generally one to defend TfW but if they've quietly decided to indefinitely postpone crwys road without informing anyone that's really not on.

 

[MikePJ]

A new video summarising work on the Metro has just been posted on YouTube

It mentions a new station at Butetown and that electrification of the Rhymney and Bay lines will be completed in the next 18 months. No mention of Crwys Road.

18 months from now is December 2026. The 2024 project plan ( https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/south-wales-metro-updates.117763/post-6605024 ) had the last planned major infrastructure upgrade being scheduled for May 2026, which is the passing loop at Tir-phil, second platform at Rhymney, and signalling upgrades on Rhymney and Penarth lines. So a start of full service at the next timetable change after that (i.e. Dec 2026) would seem sensible.

I am sad about Crwys Road though - I suspect it’s a victim of cashflow. Planning permission does expire if you don’t start work within three years, so I’d put my money on work starting towards the end of that period.

One more thing - there’s a Senedd election in early May 2026, so the six weeks before will have a ban on any major announcements from TfW. They may try and get some announcements out before that period, and the timetable change is after the election so won’t be affected.

 

[chargesmith]

But could you run a shuttle from CDB up to CDQ then it splits and the rear section reverse and goes on to CDF ? i.e. it already has two drivers to speed things up. Whole process could repeat, i.e. re-couple back at CDQ for the return run down to CDB if required. I have seen the Maesteg train split at central and they now have it down to a fine art.

Unlikely - there's no spare capacity at Cardiff Central which is exactly why the Bay line is taking the extra trains from north of Pontypridd. Much easier to just get people to switch onto trains already going to Central once you've got them to Queen Street.

 

[tigermonstera]

A bathroom is being installed at Treorchy Station starting this week. I believe this is the first of the new "pod" bathrooms to be installed?

Source here:

We’ll be installing a purpose built toilet facility at Treorchy station. We are working to carry out the majority of the work to install the new pod during the daytime from Wednesday 28 May to Friday 06 June 2025 to minimise the impact on nearby residents.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Interesting given their website says toilets at Treherbert and Tonypandy with no mention of Treorchy - https://tfw.wales/projects/metro/faqs. When did that plan change, and will Treherbert and Tonypandy still get toilets too?

 

[Tom125]

Wait...so the 4 trains per hour to the heads of each valley is after the Senedd election? That's disasterous timing!

 

[MikePJ]

Wait...so the 4 trains per hour to the heads of each valley is after the Senedd election? That's disasterous timing!

It's not good from a politics perspective, no... but most members of the public aren't aware that's what was promised. They'll see new trains though - the Sprinters should all be gone by then.

 

[Chris125]

Looking out of the train as we went north, a metal grid structure has been placed under the trackbed for the future Up line just north of Butetown station - I'd guess this is to support the track over a weak section of viaduct.

If the 'grid structure' refers to the beams sitting on piles, that will support a new platform; it's too lightweight to carry trains.

 

[Jantra]

Walked from Radyr to Coryton Station along the old track bed. Arrived at Coryton only to find the service was cancelled.
Chap with a suitcase trying to get a taxi on the main road!
Looked on RTT to see the cancelled service was terminating at Birchgrove. Walked down there which was 3 stations away in case they did it again. They did but this time from Ty-Glas, which was annoying as I could see the trains lights go from white to red as it reversed away. Posters up everywhere saying the service on this line is not up to scratch and TfW are working behind the scenes to rectify it! Basically they left 3 stations on this line without a service for 90 minutes, just so they could keep the stats' up else where and they wonder why so few people use it.
Work going on a pace at the new Velindre Cancer Hospital, huge new bridge across the old trackbed for access via the ASDA car park near J32.
Extending the Coryton line seems like a no brainer, in that you could have a P&R, Hospital Station and a dual track passing point for this stretch of single track line. If it isn't being planned, then it really should be.

 

[Daniel Boone]

I find the lack of provision for future double tracking of the entire line quite short sighted. The OLE masts would have to be moved (at great cost) if they ever decided to lay new track beside the current one.

 

[John R]

I find the lack of provision for future double tracking of the entire line quite short sighted. The OLE masts would have to be moved (at great cost) if they ever decided to lay new track beside the current one.

At best I can envisage a passing loop, as given TfW has decided it can run 4tph on each of the northern branches with intermittent double track, it feels overkill to do more than that, even if they do step up to 4tph on the Coryton branch.

 

[MikePJ]

Extending the Coryton line seems like a no brainer, in that you could have a P&R, Hospital Station and a dual track passing point for this stretch of single track line. If it isn't being planned, then it really should be.

Yes, that's definitely been proposed several times. TfW currently have no funds allocated to it, but it was in the transport plan for Cardiff Council (published in 2019) with a timescale of "2028 or later".

 

[hilly]

Yes, that's definitely been proposed several times. TfW currently have no funds allocated to it, but it was in the transport plan for Cardiff Council (published in 2019) with a timescale of "2028 or later".

Think the best place for a loop would be between Rhiwbina and birchgrove

 

[sefyllian]

I find the lack of provision for future double tracking of the entire line quite short sighted. The OLE masts would have to be moved (at great cost) if they ever decided to lay new track beside the current one.

There were plans for passing loops on the line, which have been descoped for now. But the OLE has been placed appropriately to allow these to be added later, without having to move the masts – see below. I don’t think there have ever been serious plans to double track the entire branch – that isn’t really necessary.

At Rhiwbina and Birchgrove the catenary posts seem to have been installed with space for a second platform and track.
Though there is what I think is earth cabling in the way (in trunking at Rhiwbina and just in flexible plastic tubing at Birchgrove).
At Rhiwbina there are also sections of unused raised trunking. My guess would be that these are from an earlier plan to have a permanently earthed section here.

 

[Cardiff123]

It's not good from a politics perspective, no... but most members of the public aren't aware that's what was promised. They'll see new trains though - the Sprinters should all be gone by then.

There's no way the 150s will be gone from the Rhymney - Barry - Bridgend line within a year. All of the 398s will need to be in daily passenger service on the TAM lines first to allow the 756s to transfer over, and then there's the task of training mainline drivers on 756s.

 

[AdamWW]

There are two new platform shelters on the platform already - just visible on the right of his picture. I agree that a large canopy would have been nice, but a) it costs more, both to build and to maintain b) the visual impact would have been huge so I expect there would have been planning objections c) with the station largely unstaffed, a large area of shelter would be at risk of attracting rough sleepers and antisocial behaviour. So I can see why TfW would have been reluctant to install one.

The "new" platform at Queen Street didn't get one...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 May 2025 ==

TfW but if they've quietly decided to indefinitely postpone crwys road without informing anyone that's really not on.

But would be rather in character, sadly.

 

[Last Hurrah]

Seeing the photo of Coryton Station in post #7100, the contrast between the renewed piece of track at the end of the line, and vegetation covering the original track is stark

While at Ninian Park, some of the shrubbery growing between the track & platform edge is now above platform level, while platform 2 (Radyr direction) has brambles coming through wire fencing at the rear of the platform

How often is the weed killer train used by TfW, as this now peak growing season ?

 

[StripeyNick]

Seeing the photo of Coryton Station in post #7100, the contrast between the renewed piece of track at the end of the line, and vegetation covering the original track is stark

While at Ninian Park, some of the shrubbery growing between the track & platform edge is now above platform level, while platform 2 (Radyr direction) has brambles coming through wire fencing at the rear of the platform

How often is the weed killer train used by TfW, as this now peak growing season ?

It doesn't run that often but having said that, there was one doing the rounds the other week.

I think one of the issues with weed control is that they're not allowed to use as strong a chemical as in the past so I'm guessing whatever is used now doesn't have quite the same effect

 

[Robert Ap Ioan]

I rode between Tirphil and Bargoed today. There are now Poles from the south of Tirphil to south of Brithdir.