South Wales Mainline Improvements

[tigermonstera]

Given the announcement today that the Spending Review includes money for the "Burns Review stations", now seems like a good time to give the project its own thread in the Infrastructure & Stations forum. The stations would be:

• Cardiff East (previously Newport Road)
• Newport West
• Somerton
• Llanwern
• Magor and Undy

Additionally, the South East Wales Transport Commission also recommended a sixth station, Cardiff Parkway. However, this project is being developed separately.

The new stations would require the South Wales Mainline's Relief Lines to be upgraded to take passenger traffic. There are also proposals for these new stations to be served by an enhanced Cardiff to Cheltenham service and a new Cardiff to Bristol service. These new services could be run by Stadler FLIRTs.

Useful background information:

• The South East Wales Transport Commission's reports.
• TFW's 2023/2024 consultation on the project, including an overview of each station and a general FAQ.
• The Burns Delivery Unit's reports, including their prospectus which outlines the potential timeline and costs of the project. This suggests that the project could be built over 5 years, with Relief Line upgrades costing £50 million and the 5 new stations costing £335 million, for a total of £385 million.
• The 2025 Spending Review.

 

[Snow1964]

I am not convinced they have ordered enough Stadler Flirts to run lots of (potentially busy) additional services on South Wales main line.

It appears the platforms will be 170m which is sufficient for 6car (or 7) 23m vehicles, or pairs of 4car 20m EMUs.

I would have thought the spare 350s would be good option, fully refurbished, and if they added some batteries (doesn't have to be big 50+ miles size) could easily get to Bristol and some Welsh valley termini.

The 170m platforms suggest 8x20m EMUs are the plan, longer than most of TfW current trains, otherwise why pick this length.

 

[tigermonstera]

There is a suggestion that TfW are starting to procure more trains (see here).

 

[Farigiraf]

How difficult would it be to add a stop at Pilning on some (maybe 2-hourly initially, then potentially more later on) of these Cardiff - Bristol stoppers*, even if eastbound only until a new footbridge is acquired? One of the reasons for the current abysmal service is that every service on that section is currently intercity or long-distance regional, but with a dedicated local stopper it would make sense to add it as a stop if not too inconvenient.
As the money is allocated for Welsh improvements, a relocation closer to the village will most likely not be funded, but it is not as rural as the likes of Buckenham or Locheilside which manage higher passenger numbers so a regular service, especially if electric, frequent (ish) and with modern trains, would be used by the locals. May even attract some people currently using Severn Beach due to the shorter journey time and higher-quality service into Bristol.

* Presumably it'll be all stations to Severn Tunnel Junction, then Patchway and Filton Abbey Wood (which could then be dropped as stops from the Exeter service unless there is enough demand for half-hourly services at Patchway) then non-stop to Bristol Temple Meads.

 

[positron]

I think picking anything other than flirts would be politically interesting, given the fact that nothing else would provide level boarding. The 170m length is probably just for maximum flexibility and future proofing. Allows them to run longer trains on event days and what not.

 

[tigermonstera]

* Presumably it'll be all stations to Severn Tunnel Junction, then Patchway and Filton Abbey Wood (which could then be dropped as stops from the Exeter service unless there is enough demand for half-hourly services at Patchway) then non-stop to Bristol Temple Meads.

The project information pack published in 2023 has a proposed route diagram on page two. If this route is used, the Bristol service would be:

1. Cardiff Central
2. Cardiff East
3. Cardiff Parkway
4. Newport West
5. Newport
6. Somerton
7. Llanwern
8. Magor & Undy
9. Severn Tunnel Junction
10. Patchway
11. Filton Abbey Wood
12. Ashley Down
13. Stapleton Road
14. Lawrence Hill
15. Bristol Temple Meads

The FAQ suggests this is likely to be 2tph.

 

[The Planner]

The reliefs can take passenger traffic now. What needs upgrading?

 

[positron]

The reliefs can take passenger traffic now. What needs upgrading?

Max speed and speed of crossover's iirc.

 

[Farigiraf]

The project information pack published in 2023 has a proposed route diagram on page two. If this route is used, the Bristol service would be:

1. Cardiff Central
2. Cardiff East
3. Cardiff Parkway
4. Newport West
5. Newport
6. Somerton
7. Llanwern
8. Magor & Undy
9. Severn Tunnel Junction
10. Patchway
11. Filton Abbey Wood
12. Ashley Down
13. Stapleton Road
14. Lawrence Hill
15. Bristol Temple Meads

The FAQ suggests this is likely to be 2tph.

If the Filton Abbey Wood (eventually Henbury) service is not increased from hourly anytime soon then Ashley Down makes sense, but Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill calls don't make much sense as they already have 3tph, and passengers from further out (e.g. Patchway or the Burns stations) travelling to Bristol would just be inconvenienced by the additional stops and journey time.

 

[positron]

If the Filton Abbey Wood (eventually Henbury) service is not increased from hourly anytime soon then Ashley Down makes sense, but Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill calls don't make much sense as they already have 3tph, and passengers from further out (e.g. Patchway or the Burns stations) travelling to Bristol would just be inconvenienced by the additional stops and journey time.

On the other hand it's about connectivity not e2e journey times. What if you're commuting to those locations?

 

[The Planner]

Max speed and speed of crossover's iirc.

That won't be cheap at places like Llanwern West.

 

[The exile]

On the other hand it's about connectivity not e2e journey times. What if you're commuting to those locations?

Or from - they serve fairly densely populated areas. For a “first inner suburban stop out from the terminus” Lawrence Hill is incredibly busy (cf Ardwick, Bordesley Duddeston etc - yes I know there are busier examples)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jun 2025 ==

If the Filton Abbey Wood (eventually Henbury) service is not increased from hourly anytime soon then Ashley Down makes sense, but Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill calls don't make much sense as they already have 3tph, and passengers from further out (e.g. Patchway or the Burns stations) travelling to Bristol would just be inconvenienced by the additional stops and journey time.

Stapleton Road at least provides an interchange for a large swathe of Bristol by train and both do by bus. The only passengers who could arguably be “inconvenienced” are those from Patchway as none of the other stations yet exist - and under these proposals Patchway (which I suspect is more a destination than a source) has its service doubled.

 

[Cdiff]

I am not convinced they have ordered enough Stadler Flirts to run lots of (potentially busy) additional services on South Wales main line.

If the Coryton & Penarth lines change over to the tram trains, which is what they have aspirations to do, then this releases the 3car 756s which they could possibly run.

 

[geoffk]

If the Coryton & Penarth lines change over to the tram trains, which is what they have aspirations to do, then this releases the 3car 756s which they could possibly run.

Tram train to Coryton has always made more sense than sending them on hour-long trips up the valleys.

 

[JohnRegular]

On Severn Beach line trains heading to Temple Meads it seems like the trains empty out at Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill.
They serve busy areas and Stapleton Road in particular is on a major bus corridor, it would not surprise me if there was moderate demand between these stations and South Wales.

 

[Smwrff]

If I understand correctly, there will be minimum 1tph service Cardiff Central to Bristol TM and 1tph service CC to Cheltenham Spa - both stopping at all stations. There is likely to be a second CC to BTM service.

So the new stations east of Newport will have 2 or 3 tph.

I assume that the stations between CC and Newport will also recieve Ebbw Vale services so 3 or 4 tph.

Cardiff Parkway should also receive some regional services - eg Cardiff - Marches and Cardiff - Portsmouth so 5 or 6tph.

 

[The exile]

On Severn Beach line trains heading to Temple Meads it seems like the trains empty out at Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill.
They serve busy areas and Stapleton Road in particular is on a major bus corridor, it would not surprise me if there was moderate demand between these stations and South Wales.

Indeed - if you’re travelling on by bus to quite a few bits of central Bristol (depending on exactly which bus goes where) you might as well change at either of the than onto Temple Meads. (I would add “ especially if noones sold you a ticket “ but they’re pretty on the ball on the Beach line.)

 

[Dr Day]

If I understand correctly, there will be minimum 1tph service Cardiff Central to Bristol TM and 1tph service CC to Cheltenham Spa - both stopping at all stations. There is likely to be a second CC to BTM service.

So the new stations east of Newport will have 2 or 3 tph.

I assume that the stations between CC and Newport will also recieve Ebbw Vale services so 3 or 4 tph.

Is there the capacity to operate all these extra services through the Severn Tunnel and on the main line between Severn Tunnel and Cardiff?
Not picked up anything about the relief lines being upgraded.

 

[John R]

Is there the capacity to operate all these extra services through the Severn Tunnel and on the main line between Severn Tunnel and Cardiff?
Not picked up anything about the relief lines being upgraded.

The relief lines being upgraded would be an integral part of the project.

 

[Caaardiff]

The relief lines being upgraded would be an integral part of the project.

Would they need to split the lines in some way? Aren't the 4 lines too close together to squeeze a platform in.
From Newport - Cardiff the main-lines are North side, with the relief lines on South side. Would the outer tracks need to be made relief and centre two lines be mains? Allowing stopping trains to stop at new stations without affecting fast trains.

 

[Akela]

It seems to me that it would make a lot of sense for “Swanline” trains to stop at these stations (which I guess makes it more of a “Swanport” service…) rather than terminating at Cardiff Central, which is a station that isn’t really suited for terminating trains. That way there would be a single stopping service that covers the whole South Wales Mainline.

 

[John R]

Would they need to split the lines in some way? Aren't the 4 lines too close together to squeeze a platform in.
From Newport - Cardiff the main-lines are North side, with the relief lines on South side. Would the outer tracks need to be made relief and centre two lines be mains? Allowing stopping trains to stop at new stations without affecting fast trains.

The original plan was to switch main and relief around. I recall this was dropped and now the plan is to slew the down relief to enable an island platform to be built between the two relief lines for the local services.

 

[dk1]

Several leaks but still fantastic news to hear today.

 

[positron]

The original plan was to switch main and relief around. I recall this was dropped and now the plan is to slew the down relief to enable an island platform to be built between the two relief lines for the local services.

Iirc that didn't really work because all the freight depots are on the south side, so yeah the plan is just a track slew for the platforms, other than at Cardiff parkway which will be 4 platforms.

 

[158756]

I'm a bit curious about the choice of locations for the stations between Cardiff and Newport.

Cardiff East seems to be sited at the point with the fewest houses in walking distance. It does serve some industrial and retail units, but they don't look the type to generate much rail traffic. No car park planned. It does have bus links, but it's so close to Cardiff Central there'd be no point changing if heading to the city centre.

Newport West is in a field, probably with no chance of development because it'll be a floodplain. 250 parking spaces are proposed which doesn't seem that much for a parkway station, and only accessible from the A48 not the local road network.

And not part of this announcement, but the proposed Cardiff Parkway station would be built to serve a business park and (crucially for a Parkway) roads which do not currently exist.

 

[John R]

I'm a bit curious about the choice of locations for the stations between Cardiff and Newport.

Cardiff East seems to be sited at the point with the fewest houses in walking distance. It does serve some industrial and retail units, but they don't look the type to generate much rail traffic. No car park planned. It does have bus links, but it's so close to Cardiff Central there'd be no point changing if heading to the city centre.

Newport West is in a field, probably with no chance of development because it'll be a floodplain. 250 parking spaces are proposed which doesn't seem that much for a parkway station, and only accessible from the A48 not the local road network.

And not part of this announcement, but the proposed Cardiff Parkway station would be built to serve a business park and (crucially for a Parkway) roads which do not currently exist.

Cardiff East is where I, as a very small child, was taken with my brother to watch the trains by my father, (presumably to give my mother a break). So I know the location very well and have an inevitable fondness for the location.

But I agree, unless the tram line from Cardiff Bay is built, I cannot see where the volume of traffic needed to justify its construction will come from.

(P.s. it is etched in my memory the day as a 4 year old we walked down to find the signal box gone, and all the semaphores replaced with colour lights far away in the distance. I have no doubt my love of mechanical signalling stems from that day.)

 

[Caaardiff]

Cardiff East seems to be sited at the point with the fewest houses in walking distance. It does serve some industrial and retail units, but they don't look the type to generate much rail traffic. No car park planned. It does have bus links, but it's so close to Cardiff Central there'd be no point changing if heading to the city centre.

From looking at the TFW consultation one end will be linked to Beresford bridge and Horwood close, which is right on the edge of Splott and southern part of Roath, both very populated areas. On the other end will be linked to Rover Way bridge which is on the tip of Tremorfa and Pengam Green, as well as Colchester Ave which has new housing developments as well as industrial areas.

For anyone heading East it saves having to go into the city centre via bus to get the train.

https://haveyoursay.tfw.wales/sew-new-stations-and-services

 

[Smwrff]

I used to live in St Mellons and it was easier to travel to Newport than Cardiff Central to pick up a train. Cardiff East will not just serve immediate (10 min walk) viciniyy but large parts of Eastern Cardiff.
St Mellons would of course be better served by Parkway.

 

[oglord]

Newport West is in a field, probably with no chance of development because it'll be a floodplain. 250 parking spaces are proposed which doesn't seem that much for a parkway station, and only accessible from the A48 not the local road network.

The plans showed two entrances: one from the Maesglas West roundabout on the A48 and one from Lighthouse Road. The A48 entrance would be for buses only.

 

[MikePJ]

I used to live in St Mellons and it was easier to travel to Newport than Cardiff Central to pick up a train. Cardiff East will not just serve immediate (10 min walk) viciniyy but large parts of Eastern Cardiff.
St Mellons would of course be better served by Parkway.

North of the railway you have Roath and Pen-y-Lan - whilst they're probably too far to walk from the station for most people, they're a short cycle or bus ride away and Cardiff East will be much more convenient than Queen St or Central.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Jun 2025 ==

I would also not be surprised if the presence of the station causes a redevelopment of that area anyway - a number of those big-box stores and light industry could well be replaced with new housing.