Are the City Line platform extensions at Waungron Park, Fairwater & Danescourt now completed ?
Last time I caught a City Line train in mid-December, the extensions weren't complete but had progressed significantly.
Are the City Line platform extensions at Waungron Park, Fairwater & Danescourt now completed ?
I was back at my parents between Xmas and New Years and from what I could see there looked to be some unwired sections around both Tonypandy and Ton Pentre. But it sounds like they have made quick progress so I can imagine it will take too long!Energisation of the OHLE on the Treherbert line was due on 29th December but from previous posts it looked as if the wires wouldn't all be up in time, particularly below Llwynypia. Does anyone have an update please with any revised date?
Being pedantic but that is at Porth. You can see the new transport hub on the left of the initial view which has been built recently which is good to see!A Tweet today from South Wales Metro updates shows a 150 arriving at Treherbert. Driver training seems to have commenced.
I must admit I’ve been caught out with the peak Treherberts that used to divert via the City line, and that’s as an enthusiast, so I have a feeling there will be plenty of these mistakes!Assuming this unofficial map is correct (which I've no reason to suppose it isn't) will be interesting to see how many people boarding southbound at stations between Pontypridd and Radyr out of habit jump on the first train that rocks up without looking at the departure board then realise too late they are going around the City Line (hence may have been better off waiting for a service going via Llandaff first), or find themselves at Cardiff Bay when they wanted Central.
Will Coryton require any work for the new trains ?
I don't think this is entirely correct it seems to suggest the aberdare to city line trains will loop when I believe they'll actually reverse at Cardiff Central.Somebody on Twitter (@foxy_michael) posted this service map indicating the new service pattern that will begin in July 24 prior to the introduction of the full Metro changes, presumably in 2025. Makes things very clear IMHO.
Having them reverse might mean they can share a platform if they keep Merthyr/Treherbert turnarounds tight though, meaning the heavy rail and light rail vehicles on Metro can have separate tracks and platforms, presumably 6 for Northbound 756s towards Caerphilly, 7 (split into A and B) for 398 services and 8 for Southbound 756s towards the VoG.I don't think this is entirely correct it seems to suggest the aberdare to city line trains will loop when I believe they'll actually reverse at Cardiff Central.
That would mean the Merthyr's reversing also. They might as well join up the route.
Why is it branded 'Valley Lines' rather than 'South Wales Metro'?Somebody on Twitter (@foxy_michael) posted this service map indicating the new service pattern that will begin in July 24 prior to the introduction of the full Metro changes, presumably in 2025. Makes things very clear IMHO.
It's not an official document. An enthusiast has chucked it together.Why is it branded 'Valley Lines' rather than 'South Wales Metro'?
Numbers are per hourWhat was the previous trains per hour on valley lines before all the works started?
Thank you, Sundays looked a bit scarce!Numbers are per hour
2 Merthyr Barry Island (1 goes to Bridgend southbound only)
2 Aberdare Barry Island (1 starts from Bridgend northbound only)
2 Treherbert Cardiff Ctrl
6 Cardiff Queen St Cardiff Bay
2 Coryton Radyr via Ninian Park
1 Rhymney Penarth
3 Bargoed Penarth (1 was truncated at Ystrad following COVID)
On Sundays
0.5 Merthyr Bridgend (returns to Aberdare)
0.5 Aberdare Barry Island (returns to Merthyr)
0.5 Treherbert Cardiff Ctrl
6 Cardiff Queen St Cardiff Bay
0.5 Rhymney Penarth
somewhere along the line they also introduced a Caerphilly Cardiff Ctrl
They still are. Still every two hours if you want to pop down to Penarth, which is laughable. With a Metro you think of every two to three minutes. Many parts of the route on Sundays are still every one hundred and twenty minutes!Thank you, Sundays looked a bit scarce!
The map is very good - apart from not calling it South Wales Metro. (Places south of Cardiff are not “The Valleys”).
I noticed the Valleys Line logo as well....10 years out of date....
Of course, the old franchise and ToC that was developed after privatisation was called "Valley Lines" even though it operated down to Barry etc too.Places south of Cardiff are not “The Valleys”
Yet still clearly on display on the bridge going into Queen Street over Newport Road! I actually quite like it still - maybe nostalgia from my childhood!And the rest!
According to the RMT they have been asked to work Sundays as a normal working day from May 2025, so I would not expect an uplift in Sunday service before then. At present RMT conductors work Sundays as voluntary overtime on double pay, which is why TfW only runs a limited service - they can't guarantee that enough conductors will volunteer to operate a better service, and it costs twice as much as usual.They still are. Still every two hours if you want to pop down to Penarth, which is laughable. With a Metro you think of every two to three minutes. Many parts of the route on Sundays are still every one hundred and twenty minutes!
I can't speak for the other lines, but the Treherbert line has been 1tph on a Sunday for a while now (of course when trains are running rather than there being a blockade) so not sure what change meant that improvement was made possible!According to the RMT they have been asked to work Sundays as a normal working day from May 2025, so I would not expect an uplift in Sunday service before then. At present RMT conductors work Sundays as voluntary overtime on double pay, which is why TfW only runs a limited service - they can't guarantee that enough conductors will volunteer to operate a better service, and it costs twice as much as usual.
Adding to this: here's the full proposal from TfW which the RMT executive recommended their members accept. It relates to: drivers opening vehicle doors to reduce dwell times; conductors use of tablet computers; Sunday working and a pay deal.
The offer was accepted about a month ago now.According to the RMT they have been asked to work Sundays as a normal working day from May 2025, so I would not expect an uplift in Sunday service before then. At present RMT conductors work Sundays as voluntary overtime on double pay, which is why TfW only runs a limited service - they can't guarantee that enough conductors will volunteer to operate a better service, and it costs twice as much as usual.
Adding to this: here's the full proposal from TfW which the RMT executive recommended their members accept. It relates to: drivers opening vehicle doors to reduce dwell times; conductors use of tablet computers; Sunday working and a pay deal.
It’s signed, lots and lots of work to be done regarding diagrams and working rosters that have to be agreed by both the unions and TFW.It’s appalling that they are not increasing the Sunday services until May 2025. So much for signing a new contract with the unions! They really are dragging their feet on this.
It relates to: drivers opening vehicle doors to reduce dwell times; conductors use of tablet computers; Sunday working and a pay deal.
Disgraceful. Until they eliminate every last bit of 1tp2h running from the timetables, they have no right to even think of calling themselves a Metro.It’s appalling that they are not increasing the Sunday services until May 2025. So much for signing a new contract with the unions! They really are dragging their feet on this.