South Wales 'Metro' updates

[WelshBluebird]

As I've said before, I'm originally from the Rhondda and am still around the area a fair but to visit family etc, and I've noticed that there's been some talk locally from friends of friends etc about some potential long term closures (6-12 months for some of the areas between Cardiff and the heads of the valleys) for some of the core valley lines over the next 18 months or so. Anyone have any more details they are willing to share? I'd have thought TfW would want to announce anything like this as soon as possible to avoid these kind of rumours etc.

 

[TravelDream]

@WelshBluebird
There are going to be some closures, but certainly not for 12 months. A lot of the work will be done during the evening and night with bus replacement services in place in the late evening.



News on some station improvements.

''Cardiff Capital Region Metro Plus'' - Who comes up with these names!?

Work has started on improvements to a railway station as part of a Cardiff Capital Region Metro Plus scheme.

The long-awaited £7.1 million project at Pontypool and New Inn railway station will include a new car park which will be accessed off newly-built slip roads from the A4042.

New electric vehicle charging points will be installed, along with a new footbridge and a lift, to provide access from the car park to the station’s single ‘island’ platform.

The project – funded by Torfaen council, Cardiff Capital Region City Deal and Welsh Government – aims to increase the number of people who use the station from across the borough and surrounding area.

The scheme will be one of the first Cardiff Capital Region Metro Plus schemes to be delivered.

Work starts on £7.1m railway station upgrade as part of Cardiff region metro scheme

Saul Cooke-Black, local democracy reporter Work has started on improvements to a railway station as part of a Cardiff Capital Region Metro Plus scheme. The long-awaited £7.1 million project at Pontypool and New Inn railway station will include a new car park which will be accessed off...

nation.cymru

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Some tangible electrification work in the form of overhead wire gantries at Treforest, gone up over the last couple of weeks.

View attachment 110934

Good to see they are getting on with it and will soon be outpacing the three English together I suspect.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Media Wales is reporting that the rail link across Central Square to link with the Bay branch is moving forward.

New rail line planned for central Cardiff

The link will go across Callaghan Square and serve Butetown, Capital Quarter and Atlantic Wharf

www.walesonline.co.uk

One small, but important, point ... Callaghan Square is not the same place as Central Square.

It's near to the rear of Central Station, whereas Central Square is at the front of it.

 

[59CosG95]

In other news:

after 12+ months of talking about the design, and numerous false starts on diffferent staging arrangements, Wk48 Taffs Well Mainline works finally under way this week in preparation for S&C… | Adam Shaw CEng MICE | 17 comments

after 12+ months of talking about the design, and numerous false starts on diffferent staging arrangements, Wk48 Taffs Well Mainline works finally under way this week in preparation for S&C installation in Wk3!!! It’s nice to see it come out of the page as they say!!! Arran Pickett Angharad Rees...

www.linkedin.com

after 12+ months of talking about the design, and numerous false starts on diffferent staging arrangements, Wk48 Taffs Well Mainline works finally under way this week in preparation for S&C installation in Wk3!!! It’s nice to see it come out of the page as they say!!! Arran Pickett Angharad Rees Ryan Ballinger Javier Sánchez Laguna Daniel Smith Daniel Sarvari

Track enabling works have been carried out at Taff's Well in preparation for S&C to be installed over the Easter Weekend (Week 3, which starts 16th April). This is presumably for the new depot.

 

[CardiffKid]

https://twitter.com/alexgseabrook/status/1500781882769825792?s=21

Quite interesting to see new concept designs for a future metro station at Pierhead Street in Cardiff Bay The station would be the first phase of Cardiff Crossrail eventually leading to Splott and St Mellons

New concept designs for a future metro station.

Please note these are aspirations not firm plans etc. Suggests however the new Cardiff Bay station will be on Pierhead Street not at The Florish/bottom of Lloyd George Avenue.

 

[anthony263]

Saw a few lorries parked outside the infrastructure yard in taffs well waiting to unload a few trailers with masts and overhead gantries

 

[Envoy]

The Cardiff Council Planning Committee met today to approve plans for the new arena in the inner Bay. It is planned to re-build the Bay branch as a twin track tramway starting in August 2022 with completion the following summer - terminating at or near the present station. However, the plans show the line being extended eventually in order to link through to Splott. These plans show this extension using up road space. OK if they have to cross roads but why actually run on street with the ramifications that the ‘tram-trains’ could get stuck in traffic & thus throw out the schedules? Surely, being as so many buildings such as The Red Dragon Centre are going to be demolished, a dedicated alignment could be found for this extension? This does not look like it has been well thought out.

The Planning Application number for this redevelopment on the Cardiff Planning Portal is:> 21-2687MJR.

See the images below for the Metro extension and note that they both differ as to where the tracks will go:>

 

[WelshBluebird]

I wonder what the proposed extensions to the line down at the Bay also mean for the proposed timetables? My understanding was that the dedicated Bay shuttle was being removed in favour of routing half the valleys services down to the Bay from Queen Street (rather than into Central) in order to deal with the increased frequency of those services (so from each head of the valley, 2 of the four trains an hour would go into central to provide the same frequency into there as we have now, and the additional 2 trains an hour would go down to the Bay). Is that no longer the plan, or will it have to be reworked if / when any extensions to Splott etc down the Bay happen?

 

[Dai Corner]

The Cardiff Council Planning Committee met today to approvable plans for the new arena in the inner Bay. It is planned to re-build the Bay branch as a twin track tramway starting in August 2022 with completion the following summer - terminating at or near the present station. However, the plans show the line being extended eventually in order to link through to Splott. These plans show this extension using up road space. OK if they have to cross roads but why actually run on street with the ramifications that the ‘tram-trains’ could get stuck in traffic & thus throw out the schedules? Surely, being as so many buildings such as The Red Dragon Centre are going to be demolished, a dedicated alignment could be found for this extension? This does not look like it has been well thought out.

The Planning Application number for this redevelopment on the Cardiff Planning Portal is:> 21-2687MJR.

See the images below for the Metro extension and note that they both differ as to where the tracks will go:>

To justify the decision to get tram-trains instead of trains?

The Queen St area is going to be congested enough as it is without tram-trains presenting themselves at random times afte suffering delays on their way from the Bay. Then they'll cause knock-on delays on the single line sections further up.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

To be frank (hello Frank!) I don't think anyone knows what they are doing with the Cardiff Bay line. There seem to be many ideas, from multiple sources, often conflicting with each other. What type of operation, where the stations will be, whether it will be extended and how far. If only there were a co-ordinating body to oversee things.

Starting in August 2022 with completion by the following summer. Yeah right. That'll be a bus service on ordinary roads then.

21/02687 is the reference number to look up on the Cardiff Planning Portal: link

 

[CapitalStar378]

I wonder what the proposed extensions to the line down at the Bay also mean for the proposed timetables? My understanding was that the dedicated Bay shuttle was being removed in favour of routing half the valleys services down to the Bay from Queen Street (rather than into Central) in order to deal with the increased frequency of those services (so from each head of the valley, 2 of the four trains an hour would go into central to provide the same frequency into there as we have now, and the additional 2 trains an hour would go down to the Bay). Is that no longer the plan, or will it have to be reworked if / when any extensions to Splott etc down the Bay happen?

The line through to Splott & Cardiff Parkway in intended to continue from the planned new link from Central as far as I know, which is included in the "Cardiff Crossrail' proposal from J33 of the M4 via Plasdwr, and potentially Beddau/Llantrisant. I have no idea what service patterns are planned, if any, at this stage though.

 

[adrock1976]

A very quick question here:

Would it have been easier and simpler to have the Bay shuttle converted to trams taking over the Coryton arm (with extensions at either end to further penetrate the Bay area, and from Coryton to Radyr)?

That way, Treherbert would have 4tph to Cardiff, with 2 via Fairwater and Ninian Park, returning north via Cathays, and the other 2 the opposite way i.e. running in a balloon loop. Also, Rhymney/Bargoed - Penarth still retains 4tph, and Aberdare (Hirwaun when reopened)/Merthyr Tydfil would have their frequency doubled to 4tph from each to either Barry Island/Bridgend.

 

[ABB125]

A very quick question here:

Would it have been easier and simpler to have the Bay shuttle converted to trams taking over the Coryton arm (with extensions at either end to further penetrate the Bay area, and from Coryton to Radyr)?

That way, Treherbert would have 4tph to Cardiff, with 2 via Fairwater and Ninian Park, returning north via Cathays, and the other 2 the opposite way i.e. running in a balloon loop. Also, Rhymney/Bargoed - Penarth still retains 4tph, and Aberdare (Hirwaun when reopened)/Merthyr Tydfil would have their frequency doubled to 4tph from each to either Barry Island/Bridgend.

Probably, but then there wouldn't be direct trains/trams to the new tram extension from every branch, so politically unacceptable (to the Welsh government people who thought up the idea).

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Looking at the Arena planning application, the officers report states:

8.111 Transport for Wales (TFW) is on target to commence works on the Core Valley Line (CVL) extension from Queen Street station to Cardiff Bay in August 2022, with works due to be completed by the summer of 2023. The TfW works include the provision of a dual track link between Queen Street station and the existing Cardiff Bay station as well as improvements to the existing Cardiff Bay station and a new station at Loudoun Square. The opportunity may exist in future to extend the line further into Cardiff Bay connecting to a proposed new transport hub at Pierhead Street and on to a new station at Roath Basin.

So an enhancement to the existing line and conversion by summer 2023, rather than the extension. I had read somewhere, on this thread probably, that a new alignment was being considered between Cardiff and the bay area.

 

[Envoy]

I further understand that Lloyd George Avenue is going to be reduced from being a dual carriageway with twin lanes each way to a single carriageway. Wonder where they will park all the buses on match days?

No information appears to be available as to how they intend to link the Bay line with Central Station south side - which would involve crossing major roads. Will it be elevated to avoid the traffic - goodness knows? Is this also part of the works that will start in August 2022?

I note that Cardiff East Parkway has been mentioned as a destination. Can it really work to have tram-trains wandering the streets in the central Bay area and then using freight lines that already exist through Tremorfa to join the South Wales main line reliefs to travel a few miles to/from Cardiff East Parkway?

 

[snowball]

No information appears to be available as to how they intend to link the Bay line with Central Station south side - which would involve crossing major roads. Will it be elevated to avoid the traffic - goodness knows? Is this also part of the works that will start in August 2022?

Wouldn't there have to be legal powers for such a thing - a T&W Act Order or something?

 

[Caaardiff]

The Cardiff Council Planning Committee met today to approve plans for the new arena in the inner Bay. It is planned to re-build the Bay branch as a twin track tramway starting in August 2022 with completion the following summer - terminating at or near the present station. However, the plans show the line being extended eventually in order to link through to Splott. These plans show this extension using up road space. OK if they have to cross roads but why actually run on street with the ramifications that the ‘tram-trains’ could get stuck in traffic & thus throw out the schedules? Surely, being as so many buildings such as The Red Dragon Centre are going to be demolished, a dedicated alignment could be found for this extension? This does not look like it has been well thought out.

The Planning Application number for this redevelopment on the Cardiff Planning Portal is:> 21-2687MJR.

See the images below for the Metro extension and note that they both differ as to where the tracks will go:>

To me it would make more sense, although much more expensive, to cross the line from Queen St onto Lloyd George avenue at the North end, at the first opportunity off the current bridge and run the line down the length of Lloyd George Avenue.
- Change the current Southbound carriage into 2 way traffic using the current 2 lanes (one being the bus lane) to maintain access to properties on Lloyd George Avenue.
- Run the rail line down the current Northbound carriageway of Lloyd George Avenue.
- Move the station to where the fountain/water feature is opposite the Millenium Centre then cross the road before the lights at the end for the new line heading towards the Docks & Splott.
This way the train crossing only crosses a Southbound 1-way road rather than 2 way traffic in each direction.
- Then use the space from the old line to run a straight road up toward Callaghan Square on the Butetown side of the track which could potentially be 4 lane to support 2 way traffic and 2 bus lanes in each direction. Northbound traffic wouldn't need to cross the rail line anywhere.

 

[TravelDream]

Also, Rhymney/Bargoed - Penarth still retains 4tph, and Aberdare (Hirwaun when reopened)/Merthyr Tydfil would have their frequency doubled to 4tph from each to either Barry Island/Bridgend.

There is insufficient capacity through Cardiff Central and no funding to increase it.

That's why the current CVL plan has six trains per hour to Cardiff Bay and only six to Cardiff Central.

 

[adrock1976]

There is insufficient capacity through Cardiff Central and no funding to increase it.

That's why the current CVL plan has six trains per hour to Cardiff Bay and only six to Cardiff Central.

Does this mean that Penarth drops from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes, with Barry Island and Bridgend via Rhoose being every 30 minutes each?

 

[Doveymain158]

Does this mean that Penarth drops from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes, with Barry Island and Bridgend via Rhoose being every 30 minutes each?

Frequency on the Barry/Penarth & Bridgend remains similar to what it is now

 

[anthony263]

Does this mean that Penarth drops from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes, with Barry Island and Bridgend via Rhoose being every 30 minutes each?

Now every 15 minutes

 

[Envoy]

The line to Bridgend via Rhoose will be 1 train every 30 minutes. (This is the shortest & quickest way to get from Barry to Bridgend & points west).

I think that it is vital that the City Line goes to a 15 minute service as soon as possible. No sign yet of anything being done to build the station at Ely Mill despite all the new housing. They have not even opened up the underpass to create a short cut for pedestrians to Cowbridge Road for buses. Traffic congestion in Broad Street / Lansdowne Road is now horrendous. Even First have given up on routing their Cowbridge & Porthcawl buses via Lansdowne Road as they now use the A4232 expressway.

 

[anthony263]

The line to Bridgend via Rhoose will be 1 train every 30 minutes. (This is the shortest & quickest way to get from Barry to Bridgend & points west).

I think that it is vital that the City Line goes to a 15 minute service as soon as possible. No sign yet of anything being done to build the station at Ely Mill despite all the new housing. They have not even opened up the underpass to create a short cut for pedestrians to Cowbridge Road for buses. Traffic congestion in Broad Street / Lansdowne Road is now horrendous. Even First have given up on routing their Cowbridge & Porthcawl buses via Lansdowne Road as they now use the A4232 expressway.

I never had problems in the X2’s on the old route when I drove it

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

The line to Bridgend via Rhoose will be 1 train every 30 minutes. (This is the shortest & quickest way to get from Barry to Bridgend & points west).

I think that it is vital that the City Line goes to a 15 minute service as soon as possible. No sign yet of anything being done to build the station at Ely Mill despite all the new housing. They have not even opened up the underpass to create a short cut for pedestrians to Cowbridge Road for buses. Traffic congestion in Broad Street / Lansdowne Road is now horrendous. Even First have given up on routing their Cowbridge & Porthcawl buses via Lansdowne Road as they now use the A4232 expressway.

Traffic really isn't too bad on Broad Street if you avoid the start and end of the school day. With Fitzalan High due to move to its new site in September it's a temporary problem at most.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Sounds like there will be a fair bit more infrastructure work coming up soon based on the fact TfW have just said that the current midweek evening replacement buses are being extended all the way to Cardiff (which ironically probably makes the journey from Cardiff to the heads of the valleys better than the faff of changing at Radyr) until further notice. What "further notice" actually means isn't cleared up, but I think it is telling that they haven't just said until the end of April or May or whatever. I can appreciate works of this kind aren't easy, but just saying "until further notice" is a bit of a cop out IMO. Are we talking weeks, months, years? Ok years is a bit of hyperbole but the point is the same. There's also some weekend closures in April (and I assume May and the following months too).

 

[anthony263]

Could also explain why I’ve had more customers getting on my 600 bus service between Aberdare and Pontypridd on Sundays recently

 

[TravelDream]

New closures have been released to the public.

From the Nation.

The latest stage of the development means that from Monday 28 March, the current evening Sunday to Thursday rail replacement bus service between Pontypridd and Radyr will extend to and from Cardiff Central as engineers carry out piling and foundation works in readiness for the installation of overhead line equipment.

The Evening City Line services in Cardiff will also be replaced by buses from Monday 4 April between Monday and Thursday only.

Work will also affect services between Pontypridd and Radyr over the weekends of 1-3 April and 15-18 April.

Meanwhile, from Sunday 17 April to Friday 13 May 2022, the railway between Aberdare and Abercynon will be closed to allow engineering work to take place.

Replacement bus services will be in operation between Aberdare and Pontypridd, to connect to and from train services.

The 26-day closure will allow engineers to carry out complex work including the installation of foundations for overhead line equipment, demolition and reconstruction of the footbridge between Penrhiwceiber and Cwm Cynon Business Park, platform works, signalling maintenance and testing, line speed improvements, and cutting back vegetation.

Transport for Wales announce service disruptions as South Wales Metro plans advance

Rail travellers may face some disruptions as the next stage of the South Wales Metro development gets underway. Transport for Wales (TfW) is continuing to move forward with the building of the South Wales Metro with major works being undertaken across the Core Valley Lines in the spring. TfW...

nation.cymru

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

New closures have been released to the public.

From the Nation.

Transport for Wales announce service disruptions as South Wales Metro plans advance

Rail travellers may face some disruptions as the next stage of the South Wales Metro development gets underway. Transport for Wales (TfW) is continuing to move forward with the building of the South Wales Metro with major works being undertaken across the Core Valley Lines in the spring. TfW...

nation.cymru

Seems odd to see "cutting back vegetation" in that work programme. Isn't it illegal to cut back vegetation during the spring and summer in order to protect nesting birds?

 

[WelshBluebird]

Still no clarification of the length of the midweek replacement bus service from Radyr to Cardiff. Given they aren't been forthcoming with it I can only assume its going to be a while!