South Wales 'Metro' updates

[CapitalStar378]

Welp that pretty much confirms 4tph is still over a year away from happening...

The tender mentions doubling the Bay line which either means Butetown will open using just the down platform or it won't open until mid 2027. Amazing when you consider that it will have been 5 years since the work on there Bay line started until it's finished. Just as well no one has been holding their breath!

 

[tigermonstera]

Thanks! The powerpoint says works are scheduled for June 26 and April 2027, so definitely no 4tph until mid-late 2027.

It'll be interesting to see how this intersects with the Crossrail timeline. We could see on-street running less than a year after 4tph on TAM and line-of-sight on the Bay line.

 

[positron]

It'll be interesting to see how this intersects with the Crossrail timeline. We could see on-street running less than a year after 4tph on TAM and line-of-sight on the Bay line.

I hope they get any disruptive (to metro services) parts of the crossrail project done as part of this initial work, people won't be happy to finally get the new service to be followed immediately by more disruption. Especially for something so Cardiff centric.

 

[J663738]

I see its now Abercynon to Aberdare's turn to have its cables stolen. Third incident in a week. You can have new trains, modernised stations, but the reliability of the whole metro seem to hinge on catching one gang on a thieving spree.
Each time a section is closed it has knock-on effects far outside the area actually affected.

 

[John R]

Are these signalling cables or overhead lines?

 

[tigermonstera]

Signalling cables, according to TfW Rail's social media.

 

[John R]

Signalling cables, according to TfW Rail's social media.

Thanks. I thought recent resignalling used fibre-optic cable to avoid this sort of problem, and given all the work done in the Valleys might have thought the opportunity would have been taken to switch to using it.

 

[The exile]

Thanks. I thought recent resignalling used fibre-optic cable to avoid this sort of problem, and given all the work done in the Valleys might have thought the opportunity would have been taken to switch to using it.

You don’t know what it’s made of until you steal it!! I believe NR / RT / BR used sometimes to leave fibre optic cable lying around after resignalling schemes so thieves would see that it was effectively worthless.

 

[tigermonstera]

Thanks. I thought recent resignalling used fibre-optic cable to avoid this sort of problem, and given all the work done in the Valleys might have thought the opportunity would have been taken to switch to using it.

Fibre is being used according to Amey:

Since the existing telecoms infrastructure was inadequate to support the new requirements, TfW commissioned Amey Consulting to design a new IP transmission network to support rail operations, including signalling, telephony and electrification equipment. This would run on new fibre optic cables, to be installed along the route of the railway.

Historically, Network Rail has installed 24-core fibre cable along the UK’s railways to provide telecoms connectivity for operational services. For the CVL, Amey proposed a larger cable in a ribbon format – 36 ribbons of 12 fibres, making 432 individual fibres in total. The spare fibres could be used to offer superfast (up to 10Gbit) broadband to homes, businesses and organisations along the railway.

Amey Consulting identified another use for the fibre network. Currently, 55 CVL stations use BT for their telecoms services, including CCTV, customer information screens, customer help points, ticket vending machines and public address systems. TfW pays around £100,000 per year to BT for these services.

Amey suggested that significant savings could be made in the long term by making use of the new TfW-owned fibre cables running past the stations. Amey presented a strong business case with costed options, resulting in TfW’s choice of a £440,000 design and install programme to connect the stations to the fibre network. Once the BT contract ends, the investment will pay for itself within five years.

(Source, 2023)

 

[Ib5]

Thanks. I thought recent resignalling used fibre-optic cable to avoid this sort of problem, and given all the work done in the Valleys might have thought the opportunity would have been taken to switch to using it.

The problem is the cables were cut and damaged causing significant signalling issues as they connect to axle counters.
The idiots who engage in this type of behaviour don’t understand copper cables are much better these days, so cut through whichever cable is closet, realise it worthless and scurry back it their trailer park long before BTP can muster up a copper from 120 miles away to attend.

The recovery often takes many many hours or days due to complexity of joining and testing hundreds of strands of cables on each joint.

 

[Dai Corner]

Thanks. I thought recent resignalling used fibre-optic cable to avoid this sort of problem, and given all the work done in the Valleys might have thought the opportunity would have been taken to switch to using it.

The data may travel over fibre but the electricity to light up the signals needs copper.

 

[John R]

You don’t know what it’s made of until you steal it!! I believe NR / RT / BR used sometimes to leave fibre optic cable lying around after resignalling schemes so thieves would see that it was effectively worthless.

No, but you would think after a couple of failed attempts the word would get around that it’s not worth it as the cable isn’t copper.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Sep 2025 ==

The problem is the cables were cut and damaged causing significant signalling issues as they connect to axle counters.
The idiots who engage in this type of behaviour don’t understand copper cables are much better these days, so cut through whichever cable is closet, realise it worthless and scurry back it their trailer park long before BTP can muster up a copper from 120 miles away to attend.

The recovery often takes many many hours or days due to complexity of joining and testing hundreds of strands of cables on each joint.

I’m well aware of all that, and it wasn’t answering the question I posed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Sep 2025 ==

The data may travel over fibre but the electricity to light up the signals needs copper.

Ah, now that makes sense. Thank you.

 

[positron]

Are these signalling cables or overhead lines?

Given the aberdare overhead lines are live it would have helped tfw tremendously if they did try and take them.

 

[positron]

Anyone work out if Cardiff bay did in fact go live last weekend? I'm guessing not, but I also imagine it's probably needed before the 398s can run Ponty - Bay services?
I know Ponty itself has no energy (a fixed conductor bar might have been useful?) but the wires start not far south, but it's quite a large gap from Gabalfa to the bay and back with no energy.

 

[Ib5]

Anyone work out if Cardiff bay did in fact go live last weekend? I'm guessing not, but I also imagine it's probably needed before the 398s can run Ponty - Bay services?
I know Ponty itself has no energy (a fixed conductor bar might have been useful?) but the wires start not far south, but it's quite a large gap from Gabalfa to the bay and back with no energy.

The batteries will easily bridge the non OLE section, they have been tested from Ninian Park to Cathays with a stop outside Central manny times without issue. They’ve also made it to Pengam from the safety of the wires again without issue.

 

[John R]

The batteries will easily bridge the non OLE section, they have been tested from Ninian Park to Cathays with a stop outside Central manny times without issue. They’ve also made it to Pengam from the safety of the wires again without issue.

If you mean the sidings just east of Cardiff (as opposed to the station on the Rhymney Line) then both the sidings and the line between there and Central are wired. (Though whether the units are permitted to use them is another matter?)

 

[Ib5]

If you mean the sidings just east of Cardiff (as opposed to the station on the Rhymney Line) then both the sidings and the line between there and Central are wired. (Though whether the units are permitted to use them is another matter?)

I don’t no, 398s haven’t been into the Brickyard Sdgs or Line A.
I also mean Pengam Sdgs from Ninian Park to enable them to shunted into a transfer to Old Dalby.

I mean Ninian Park (Up/Dn Treforest) to Cardiff Central via Queens Street towards Llandaff.

 

[John R]

I also mean Pengam Sdgs from Ninian Park to enable them to shunted into a transfer to Old Dalby.

Yes, so "made it to Pengam" means the electrified sidings just east of Rover Way Bridge.

 

[Ib5]

Yes, so "made it to Pengam" means the electrified sidings just east of Rover Way Bridge.

Correct, next to the SWML and the branch to Cardiff Tidal.

 

[Snow1964]

According to this article TfW have announced that Penarth and Coryton trains are all electric now all 756s are in service

New electric trains are now running on the Coryton and Penarth lines in South Wales.

A total of 24 Class 756 electric trains will run on the Coryton, Penarth, Treherbert, Aberdare, and Merthyr lines.

The trains have increased capacity, faster and more frequent services, as well as improved comfort and accessibility, including level boarding.

This completes the rollout of all the Class 756 trains across the South Wales Valleys as part of the Welsh Government’s £800 million investment into new trains.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said:

“We are working hard to deliver better transport for people across Wales, so I am delighted that the full rollout of the brand-new 756 electric trains is now complete.

“This marks another significant milestone on our mission to upgrade all the Core Valley Lines and deliver a turn-up-and go metro service.

“And with Pay As You Go available in over 90 stations, more people will now be able to travel for cheaper and benefit from the service these state-of-the art trains provide.”
Marie Daly, Chief Operating Officer at TfW, said:

“We're excited to now have brand-new electric trains running on the Coryton line and improving the customer experience for all those who travel with us.

“These modern trains offer more capacity, improved seating, modern air conditioning, power sockets, Wifi and passenger information screens with up-to-the-minute travel information. They’ll also feature automatic level boarding and space for up to six bikes.”

New Electric Trains Now Running Daily on Coryton and Penarth Lines

New electric trains are now running on the Coryton and Penarth lines in South Wales. A total of 24 Class 756 electric trains will run on the Coryton, Penarth, Treherbert, Aberdare, and Merthyr lines. The trains have increased capacity, faster and more frequent services, as well as improved...

businessnewswales.com

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2025 ==

Are these signalling cables or overhead lines?

apparently also about 150m of overhead

Just as services were returning to normal, approximately 150 metres of overhead wires were cut and removed near Tir Phil shortly afterwards in the early hours of Monday 22 September. Teams were dispatched to safely remove the damaged wires, causing further cancellations. 

Increase in cable thefts across the South Wales Valley lines

The South Wales Valley rail network is experiencing an increase in cable thefts, leading to significant disruption for passengers and costly repairs of over three quarters of a million pounds.

news.tfw.wales

 

[tigermonstera]

Draft 2027 CVL Network Statement is out for consultation. It appears to be fairly similar to the 2026 Network Statement in terms of the Metro timeline.

 

[AdamWW]

According to this article TfW have announced that Penarth and Coryton trains are all electric now all 756s are in service

Not, however, today.

On the up side, though, Ty Glas station now has the start of a platform extension.

 

[Dai Corner]

On the up side, though, Ty Glas station now has the start of a platform extension

I thought it was on a single track with no Up and Down sides?

 

[AdamWW]

I thought it was on a single track with no Up and Down sides?

Well the extension is on the up side of the existing platform...

 

[MikePJ]

A quick Cardiff Bay update: I cycled past today and it's clear that the overhead line was not energised as planned last month - there are still temporary earth cables on the wires at Cardiff Bay station, and the switchgear at Butetown is open-circuit. I suspect that the issue is with the lineside fencing: new metal palisade fencing has been installed along the line, but there are several gaps in it where the fence comes close to the overhead line masts. These gaps are currently plugged with temporary site fencing or the pre-existing chainlink fence, but based on what's been done elsewhere (notably on the Coryton branch), I assume that these gaps will eventually be filled with non-conductive fibreglass fencing. Presumably there's a supply-chain delay in getting these fence panels, and until they're in place the line can't be safely energised.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Oct 2025 ==

A bit more on this now that I've had a chance to cycle down Bute St: the works for the second platform at Butetown have progressed quite a bit over the last month: the new concrete retaining wall between the railway and the street looks finished, and works are going on up on the trackbed where they can't be seen from the street. There was a concrete pump truck there this morning with a long boom, and that also made me wonder if that's also holding back the energisation of the overhead wires - it adds a lot of extra safety complexity to work with machinery in an environment with live wires.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Oct 2025 ==

More progress this morning: I saw some contractors installing a GRP fence panel near Butetown station, so that's progress.

 

[tigermonstera]

Cardiff Council have published their 9th Annual Monitoring Report for their Local Development Plan (Link, Item 3 Appendix 1). I noticed on pages 109-110 that it says:

Strategic Rail Improvement Schemes: City Centre to Cardiff Bay (Phase 2 – twin track and link via Callaghan Square to Central Station) (TfW) [LDP]
Being delivered as part of the CrossRail Phase 1 works - CC as Lead, working in partnership with TfW. Site and Ground investigations are currently ongoing to inform design, and will be until the end of 2025. Expected to start construction Spring 2026, Callaghan Square completion due late 2028-early 2029.

I'm not sure on whether "Callaghan Square" in this context means just the tramway aspect or the entirety of the remodelling. If it's the former, that would imply a late 2028 / early 2029 opening date for Crossrail Phase 1a.

 

[MikePJ]

Another consultation has appeared - this one is in two parts:

1) giving notice of the energisation of the overhead line between Rhymney and Caerphilly, with a go-live date of 8th December 2025.
2) giving notice of the platform extension at Ty Glas, which is due to enter service in April 2026.

 

[positron]

Another consultation has appeared - this one is in two parts:

1) giving notice of the energisation of the overhead line between Rhymney and Caerphilly, with a go-live date of 8th December 2025.
2) giving notice of the platform extension at Ty Glas, which is due to enter service in April 2026.

Wonder if they'll actually meet the 8th December timeline. The bay energisation seems likely to be at least a month late.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Oct 2025 ==

Cardiff Council have published their 9th Annual Monitoring Report for their Local Development Plan (Link, Item 3 Appendix 1). I noticed on pages 109-110 that it says:

I'm not sure on whether "Callaghan Square" in this context means just the tramway aspect or the entirety of the remodelling. If it's the former, that would imply a late 2028 / early 2029 opening date for Crossrail Phase 1a.

The tramway necessitates the whole remodeling. I thought originally they wanted it done by the football in Cardiff in 28. But perhaps that was the central station work instead.

 

[MikePJ]

Wonder if they'll actually meet the 8th December timeline. The bay energisation seems likely to be at least a month late.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Oct 2025 ==

The recent cable theft can’t have helped.

 

[Cardiff4]

TfW have recently advised local councillors that the foot crossing at Ty Glas will reopen on Friday 24th October 2025. The reopening of Ty Glas station is now planned to be in April 2026.