Potential improvements in the Cardiff area, to boost capacity/reliability?

[Jez]

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/cardiff-area-service-reliability.250159/

Cardiff Central isn't an ideal place for terminating trains given most have to cross the mainline to get to the sidings.

In the new timetable I think Maesteg services are running to Ebbw Vale rather than Cheltenham.

Ideally Cardiff needs a couple of bay planforms for trains terminating from the East. Or perhaps platform 0 could be used for terminating Nottingham and Cheltenham trains for example to avoid them having to turn around. It could help with the congestion on Platform 3 and 4.

 

[Nick Ashwell]

In the new timetable I think Maesteg services are running to Ebbw Vale rather than Cheltenham.

Which is a shame for myself, I work in Caldicot and Bridgend, meaning the direct link has been a godsend

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Cardiff Central isn't an ideal place for terminating trains given most have to cross the mainline to get to the sidings.

In the new timetable I think Maesteg services are running to Ebbw Vale rather than Cheltenham.

Ideally Cardiff needs a couple of bay planforms for trains terminating from the East. Or perhaps platform 0 could be used for terminating Nottingham and Cheltenham trains for example to avoid them having to turn around. It could help with the congestion on Platform 3 and 4.

There are a small number of trains that arrive from the east directly into platforms 0/1/2 but 0 isnt liked for arrivals (from either direction) as it’s located outside the barriers and has a tight staircase down onto the concourse so isn’t suited to a surge of passengers arriving at once.

 

[Jez]

There are a small number of trains that arrive from the east directly into platforms 0/1/2 but 0 isnt liked for arrivals (from either direction) as it’s located outside the barriers and has a tight staircase down onto the concourse so isn’t suited to a surge of passengers arriving at once.

That's a good point about the Platform 0 steps to the concourse not being ideal for a massive amount of passengers at once.

Perhaps they could use Platform 2 for terminating trains from the East going straight back out to the East. And platform 1 could be used for through trains from the West/Swansea that are continuing East.

Perhaps something like this;

Platform 0 - Services to Portsmouth, Penzance/Taunton all starting at Cardiff after terminating in Platform 3/4
Platform 1 - GWR Paddington Service, TFW to Manchester/Holyhead, TFW to Ebbw Vale (from Maesteg), terminating service from Carmarthen that doesnt continue to Manchester.
Platform 2 - terminating services from Nottingham and Cheltenham Spa which turn around and return to Nottingham/Cheltenham within half an hour.
Platform 3 - GWR to Swansea/Carmarthen, TFW to West Wales (some from Manchester), Maesteg (from Ebbw Vale)
Platform 4 - terminating services from Portsmouth, Penzance/Taunton, terminating services from Manchester that don't continue to West Wales. Swanline terminating service and departures.
Platforms 6-8 Keep as now with all the Valley/Cardiff Local services separate from the main line.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

That's a good point about the Platform 0 steps to the concourse not being ideal for a massive amount of passengers at once.

Perhaps they could use Platform 2 for terminating trains from the East going straight back out to the East. And platform 1 could be used for through trains from the West/Swansea that are continuing East.

Perhaps something like this;

Platform 0 - Services to Portsmouth, Penzance/Taunton all starting at Cardiff after terminating in Platform 3/4
Platform 1 - GWR Paddington Service, TFW to Manchester/Holyhead, TFW to Ebbw Vale (from Maesteg), terminating service from Carmarthen that doesnt continue to Manchester.
Platform 2 - terminating services from Nottingham and Cheltenham Spa which turn around and return to Nottingham/Cheltenham within half an hour.
Platform 3 - GWR to Swansea/Carmarthen, TFW to West Wales (some from Manchester), Maesteg (from Ebbw Vale)
Platform 4 - terminating services from Portsmouth, Penzance/Taunton, terminating services from Manchester that don't continue to West Wales. Swanline terminating service and departures.
Platforms 6-8 Keep as now with all the Valley/Cardiff Local services separate from the main line.

It was tried (on paper) a few years ago and utilising P2 for turnbacks results in an unrealistic number of trains using P1. The main problem is that if you want to eliminate shunting then the order that trains arrive from Newport dictates the order they can return, as you end up with stacking. This was originally the intent as platform 4 would have become a full-time Valleys platform but it was quickly demonstrated to be unrealistic and thankfully never happened.

The other problem with platform 0 is that it can’t accommodate more than a 4-car train.

 

[anthony263]

Need the bridge over Newport Road north of queen Street rebuilt to accommodate at least 3 tracks. Pity there's no easy way to extend platform 0 that would be a big help plus rebuild bay platform 5