South Wales 'Metro' updates

[AdamWW]

Working in that area of Cardiff at the time, the impression I had was that the plan was to remove the embankment and bring the railway down to street level, not to get rid of it altogether. However the developers of the posh, expensive new flats on the eastern side rather liked the idea of a physical barrier between them and Butetown itself, so the embankment was kept. Can't have ordinary folk just wandering across to our shiny new developments, can we?

I certainly read that there were plans to abandon the railway line to free up land for development on the grounds that it wasn't needed because everyone could catch the number 6 bus instead.

Whether that was actually true or a misunderstanding is another story of course...

 

[Bob Price]

There was a story doing the rounds that they were planning to use Pacers with side plates to cover the wheels and engines. They reckoned they could run these at street level.

 

[Tumbleweed]

There was a story doing the rounds that they were planning to use Pacers with side plates to cover the wheels and engines. They reckoned they could run these at street level.

Now that I would have liked to see!

 

[takno]

Now that I would have liked to see!

Wouldn't have fancied hearing them going round tight corners on the on-street sections though

 

[Signal_Box]

756 test running tonight Radyr to Pontypridd throughout the early hours, as a stop gap until the trams arrive.
756108 doing the testing battery and overhead propulsion.

 

[athro]

Spotted yesterday morning at Penrhiwceiber station.

 

[positron]

Spotted yesterday morning at Penrhiwceiber station.
View attachment 143410

Interesting that it says Treforest Station when there's no wires from there to Ponty? Do they just not acknowledge the gaps when it comes to the sections they consider live?

Pretty big milestone to get to. Merthyr branch is complete, aberdare branch is mostly (wonder why it's not energised north of Cwmbach yet?), so now it's just Treherbert, Rhymney (+ coryton) and the Bay branches left.

 

[Tom125]

Interesting that it says Treforest Station when there's no wires from there to Ponty? Do they just not acknowledge the gaps when it comes to the sections they consider live?

Pretty big milestone to get to. Merthyr branch is complete, aberdare branch is mostly (wonder why it's not energised north of Cwmbach yet?), so now it's just Treherbert, Rhymney (+ coryton) and the Bay branches left.

No wires up in Aberdare yet or there certainly wasn’t Sunday.

 

[positron]

No wires up in Aberdare yet or there certainly wasn’t Sunday.

Well that would certainly explain it . Guess they must be keen to get something running under the wires sooner rather than later even if it's not all ready.

Does anyone know the go live date for the Rhonda wires?

 

[5021]

Well that would certainly explain it . Guess they must be keen to get something running under the wires sooner rather than later even if it's not all ready.

Does anyone know the go live date for the Rhonda wires?

Back in July the date given for the Treherbert line was December 29 and I haven't heard of any change.

 

[Brissle Girl]

A quick google comes up with late Jan/early Feb as the expected timeline for reopening of the line. Whether the line will be electrified at that point is of course a different question.

 

[5021]

A quick google comes up with late Jan/early Feb as the expected timeline for reopening of the line. Whether the line will be electrified at that point is of course a different question.

I haven't seen any earlier expected reopening date than Feb. It is of course a good idea to switch the juice on as soon as the wires are ready to ensure that they stay there!

 

[Tumbleweed]

I noticed today that the re-doubling of the line has started northwards from Porth to Dines Rhondda.

 

[MikePJ]

Whilst the overhead lines will be going live shortly, it appears that the 398s will not be in service until November 2024 (see my post in the 398 thread for details).

 

[Markdvdman]

It is diabolical introducing in November 2024 - something like 18 months late. The cynic in me tends to think the promise of lower lies fares is a big fat lie! How they can justify waiting so long is unreal!

 

[Train Maniac]

So.... 150's will still be running in the interim i presume?

 

[positron]

Presumably they'll have the 756s out asap, keep the 231s on Rhymney, and someone else (Cheltenham?) will lose out and get the 150s? Assuming the 170s and 175s will be gone too soon.

 

[AdamWW]

Presumably they'll have the 756s out asap, keep the 231s on Rhymney, and someone else (Cheltenham?) will lose out and get the 150s? Assuming the 170s and 175s will be gone too soon.

It's been suggested that the 231s will move to their intended route and the Rhymney Line will be downgraded back to 150s.

I don't know if that's true and I can't see it going down very well.

They haven't publicised the 231s being a stopgap but a change to 756s wouldn't be very noticable. A change back to 150s certainly would. From what I've heard from non enthusiasts the 231s are quite popular.

 

[positron]

Even just from an accessibility point of view I can't see how they'd get away with yanking level boarding away for the better part of a year. I really think they'd be better leaving the 231s there and putting the 150s on the periphery as horrible as that is for those routes.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Of course when the Treherbert services start again:

1. They will need more units to operate those services than right now (as, at least when I have been travelling back home, they have totally pulled those services and aren't even running them as a Cardiff - Pontypridd shuttle). Granted I don't think it is a huge number but given how stretched they are!
2. There will be huge pressure for something to be immediately better than what it previously was given how long the line will have been closed for. The same 150's running as before at the same frequency and timings as before may not be enough whilst they wait to introduce the 398's.

 

[positron]

Doesn't Treherbert have some particularly tight radii that mean only 150s or 398s can run? Will the 756s actually fit?

First document - "Consultation Document CVL G1 Network Change Proposal CVLNCCP01-G1-03-V1 for the Transformation Programme 19 06 2023"

Some key quotes (emphasis mine):

• The energisation of the OLE system Commissioning from Pontypridd to Aberdare has now changed from 24 June 2023 to 07 October 2023
• The energisation of the OLE system Commissioning from Abercynon to Merthyr Tydfil has now from 11 August 2023 to 07 October 2023

Coming up on that 7th October date any updates on if the Cwmbach to Aberdare section is finished yet?

 

[Hwnt52]

Three pics from the Rhondda line today:
1. Treherbert with the new platform and new track in place. The station building is right centre.
2. Dinas looking towards Porth with the new track in place.
3. Dinas looking towards Tonypandy showing the end of the redoubling.

 

[positron]

I'm struggling to visualise what that track layout looks like at Treherbert? Looks to me like the platform is going to be incredibly thin?

 

[markymark2000]

Coming up on that 7th October date any updates on if the Cwmbach to Aberdare section is finished yet?

There is a week blockade starting Saturday closing Ponty-Merthyr & Aberdare so I wonder if that is related to finishing it off.

 

[MikePJ]

A couple more updates:

- on the Cardiff Bay branch, I cycled past the Butetown station compound and could see newly-finished concrete foundations, which explains a lot of the earthworks that have been going on there in the last couple of months
- in Penarth, a tracked digger has appeared in the cutting just north of the station - presumably to start on ground clearance.

 

[Merthyr Imp]

There is a week blockade starting Saturday closing Ponty-Merthyr & Aberdare so I wonder if that is related to finishing it off.

I thought it was from Sunday (to Merthyr anyway).

 

[markymark2000]

I thought it was from Sunday (to Merthyr anyway).

So it is. Apologies, I thought it included the Saturday.

 

[Anonymous10]

It's been suggested that the 231s will move to their intended route and the Rhymney Line will be downgraded back to 150s.

I don't know if that's true and I can't see it going down very well.

They haven't publicised the 231s being a stopgap but a change to 756s wouldn't be very noticable. A change back to 150s certainly would. From what I've heard from non enthusiasts the 231s are quite popular.

Indeed they are with the locals, my grandfather an ex member of br staff loves them for being silent and smooth. Likewise most my family have commented on them.

 

[5021]

There seem to be plenty of overnight closures on the Rhymney line now. Anyone know how work is progressing? Thanks.

 

[Snow1964]

Seems Planning permission has been given for temporary compound to help the building of Cardiff Bay and Butetown

The report said a further application for prior approval was necessary to consider the use of this neighbouring land on a temporary basis to facilitate construction.

The temporary use of the land would include laydown, car parking, modular cabins and welfare buildings as well as vehicle manoeuvring, general construction areas and internal haul road (outwith Lloyd George Avenue).

Cardiff Council has granted prior approval subject to conditions under delegated powers.

Cardiff station and rail enhancements take step forward with approval

The building of a new station in Cardiff and other rail enhancements has taken a step forward with the latest approval of land to deliver the improvements.

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