I focussed on the routes which radiate from Cardiff - both Ebbw Vale and Maesteg services start from Cardiff but split from the main line some distance away. But it's a good point - the improvement in South East Wales has been even more dramatic than just the "Valley Lines".
Well, they don't really start from Cardiff at all, not in terms of where the branches end, or necessarily where the services go. The only lines traditionally considered 'Valley Lines' were those that passed through Cardiff Queen St.
Lines through Queen Street are Core Valley Lines (CVL) so Ebbw Vale and Maesteg are non-core I assume.
That’s exactly why I didn’t include Ebbw Vale in my original comment but caveated it accordingly. I was focusing on the “Valley Lines” (or Table 130 if you want to think of it that way.)
I don't think there is room for an upgrade, without rebuilding Newport Road bridge (not part of the project). But I would imagine that the trams (and to a lesser extent the heavier units) will be much fleeter of foot in accelerating, so will clear the junction faster after leaving Queen St, and coming south if required to wait for their slot will again clear it faster once given a green.
It would also help if train dispatch was a bit slicker: certainly at Cardiff Central, platform dispatch on the Valleys Lines often seems very relaxed - I've watched on-time services dawdle at greens for over a minute on platforms 7 and 8, then depart late, for no apparent reason. The approach appears very different from that at Clapham Junction.
Track Sectioning Site. "TSC" (Track Sectioning Cabin/Cabinet) is exactly the same thing with a different name.
I know I am being quite critical in this thread, but seriously 5 days notice for a 25 day closure? That can't be right? Was this advertised elsewhere before that press release? Surely all of this should be being planned well upfront with significant advance notice given to passengers (IMO notice of at least the amount of time the closure is for - so a 25 day closure should get at least 25 days notice). I really am optimistic of the end point of all of this, but I really really do not like how the disruption itself is being managed. Maybe my views are a little misplaced if they did give more notice for this specific closure, but the general point still stands from what I've seen and experienced over recent months.
I agree that 5 days notice for a 25 day closure can't be right and that notice should be given of at least the amount of time the closure is for.
I would imagine it has been in the "engineering works" bit of the website for at least a couple of weeks or so beforehand.
It certainly contrasts with the massive publicity just over the Severn for the 2021 Bristol blockade- which was considerably shorter.
To be fair, there's a bit of a difference between what amounted to a near complete closure of the busiest station in the whole of the west of England for 6 weeks and an 8 mile branch line. The number of passengers affected, both in terms of passenger journeys, and individuals (the Merthyr line will have a greater proportion of regular travellers - the Bristol area more occasional passengers), would be at least one if not two orders of magnitude larger.
Given the link says "bringing back into use the existing rail track", I suspect the tram conversation isn't relevant at all here. The plan will be to reuse the existing heavy rail line only I'd have thought.
Almost certainly, but won't they be able to have level crossings and foot crossings etc? And light rail signalling
MANY MANY MANY thanks for these pictures. The old Devil's Bridge was a favourite haunt of mine as a child watching the coal trains with my Dad. I guess the old bridge was cut up and not "recycled" somewhere as the old signal box was - mind you the old bridge must have been quite an age now.
As I understand it, the rest of the CVL signalling in the valleys will be conventional "heavy rail" type, so it would feel a bit odd to have anything different on that short section. And my guess is that the service will consist of one train extended every half hour beyond Aberdare, so will be possible with just the single track between there and Hirwaun. (I haven't modelled that though.)
There's a press release dated Wednesday:
www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
