South Wales 'Metro' updates

[Daniel Boone]

Just to consolidate everything here, according to RTT, there were a fair few test movements last night and yesterday up and down the network as documented on the respected threads.

Yesterday there were 4 class 398 movements:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V76244/2026-02-06/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V76224/2026-02-06/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V76223/2026-02-06/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V76195/2026-02-06/detailed
Followed by one in the early hours of this morning:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V77655/2026-02-07/detailed

On the 756 front, 756101 and 756115 (coupled together) did two runs between Rhymney and platform 8 of Cardiff Central:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V77588/2026-02-07/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[Qing4theloo]

Took the train into Cardiff Central this week on the VoG line.
No surprises with the 150.
Interesting line - between Llantwit and Barry it feels like a sleepy branch line, but after Barry it takes on the feel of a Metro, with more frequent stops in a more built-up environment.
I was impressed with the amount of activity going on at Cardiff Central. Lots of passengers coming and going in the early to mid-afternoon, and about 80% of the trains seemed to be local, i.e. Metro.
So, at the risk of sounding like a TfW PR bod, all seems to be working well.

 

[enapace]

Aha! That style of powerpoint Gantt chart looked very familiar and so your post prompted me to go and look at the consultation page, and indeed it is from the newly-released 2026 project plan ("G5 notice of intended scope") - see attached.

Here's a summary of what's supposed to happen this year:

• 31st January: Aberdare toilet completion
• 9th Feb: Merthyr Vale and Treorchy toilet completion
• End Feb: Merthyr Tyfil, Abercynon & Tonypandy toilet completion
• March 23rd: Cardiff Bay branch wires to go live
• March 31st: Ty-Glas platform extension entry into service; Cwmbach and Llwynypia toilet completion
• April to mid-June: 398s enter service on Cardiff Bay - Pontypridd services
• July - September: 398s replace 756s on the TAM lines and 756s replace 231s and 150s on Rhymney/Bargoed <> Barry Island services
• August - high voltage connection of Ninian Park Feeder station to core valley lines overhead line network
• October - Bute Town station (note that it's written as two words) Platform 2 opening.
• Dec 13th: No 150s on the TAM lines, new faster timetable. (Note that 150s on Rhymney will still be around because they're still needed for the Vale of Glamorgan service)
• Various unspecified level boarding works are also listed, as are various signalling and track works that I don't understand from the relatively cryptic notes.

These project plans are intended to notify other industry bodies of the planned works, so TfW don't necessarily have to stick to them. But the plan and dates do capture a snapshot of what's expected at the time it was drawn up, so its fair to say that 398 introduction is definitely still on the agenda.

Is the construction of Crwys road not meant to start this year now then ? Thought it was meant to start sometime this year.

 

[Smwrff]

Is the construction of Crwys road not meant to start this year now then ? Thought it was meant to start sometime this year.

Goes to tender this year - construction starts next year with completion in 2028

 

[enapace]

Goes to tender this year - construction starts next year with completion in 2028

Shame but okay thanks for update.

 

[ClackityClack]

Goes to tender this year - construction starts next year with completion in 2028

Aren't they doing the work on Heath High Level before Crwys Road starts?

 

[Smwrff]

Aren't they doing the work on Heath High Level before Crwys Road starts?

Dont know - but why should they be connected?

 

[mrmartin]

Goes to tender this year - construction starts next year with completion in 2028

Tender was out last year. https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038055-2025

Contract dates (estimated)​

• 18 March 2026 to 29 October 2027
• 1 year, 7 months, 12 days

Has it been delayed again?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Tender was out last year. https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038055-2025

Contract dates (estimated)​

• 18 March 2026 to 29 October 2027
• 1 year, 7 months, 12 days

Has it been delayed again?

Interestingly it featured in two calls for tender of the same date:
Market engagement for the construction projects at Heath High Level and Crwys Road stations for Transport for Wales.
8 July 2025.
Contract Dates (estimated) 19 March 2026 to 10 November 2027, 1 year, 7 months, 23 days. find-tender.service

and

Construction works for new Crwys road station on behalf of Transport for Wales as part of South Wales Metro.
8 July 2025.
Contract Dates (estimated) 18 March 2026 to 29 October 2027, 1 year, 7 months, 12 days. find-tender.service

 

[MK Tom]

Does anyone know when construction is expected to start on the street running section between Cardiff Bay and Central?

 

[VR494]

Does anyone know when construction is expected to start on the street running section between Cardiff Bay and Central?

The bay line extention is fully funded and prepartion work will begin in the second half of this year. The wires are due to go live in March and the signalling and platforms will be done around spring next year, along with the remodel of Cardiff Queen Street.

For now, the 398's will focus on Pontypridd-Cardiff Bay services. The next phase will be to introduce them on the Treherbert line in the latter of this year.

 

[Smwrff]

The bay line extention is fully funded and prepartion work will begin in the second half of this year. The wires are due to go live in March and the signalling and platforms will be done around spring next year, along with the remodel of Cardiff Queen Street.

For now, the 398's will focus on Pontypridd-Cardiff Bay services. The next phase will be to introduce them on the Treherbert line in the latter of this year.

I think you are mixing up the improvements to the existing Cardiff Bay line to Queen Street with the Crossrail extension to Cardiff Central. I understand that the preparation works for Crossrail (the street running part) will commence in mid 2026 and the line should be operational by 2028

 

[VR494]

I think you are mixing up the improvements to the existing Cardiff Bay line to Queen Street with the Crossrail extension to Cardiff Central. I understand that the preparation works for Crossrail (the street running part) will commence in mid 2026 and the line should be operational by 2028

The Cardiff Queen Street, or CVL boundary junction remodel will not be taking place until at least Spring 2027, during these works the signalling will also be upgraded on the line and Butetown station will open at the same time.

Phase 1A of the crossrail project works will be starting later this year as you have mentioned. I do think that money would have been better spent providing additional OLE which the tram-trains really needed though.

Cardiff already had a good bus service to and from Cardiff Bay to the back of the station, previously operated by number 6 bendy buses. This is a massive waste of money in my opinion, and will be littered with taxis parked blocking the route.

 

[edwin_m]

This is a massive waste of money in my opinion, and will be littered with taxis parked blocking the route.

It's entirely separate from traffic lanes except for crossing roads at signalled junctions, so taxis would have to drive down the reserved track to park there.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

It's entirely separate from traffic lanes except for crossing roads at signalled junctions, so taxis would have to drive down the reserved track to park there.

A challenge I am sure someone will live up to.

 

[VR494]

It's entirely separate from traffic lanes except for crossing roads at signalled junctions, so taxis would have to drive down the reserved track to park there.

You’re obviously not familiar with Cardiff taxis then? Any yellow box, corner you name it, and they’ll park on it!

Another thing I think they’ve sadly overlooked is the issues Cardiff has in general where this tram will be serving.

I have no doubt someone will go for a walk and end up on the tracks at Queen Street, thanks to the open plan nature of it.

 

[Smwrff]

The Cardiff Queen Street, or CVL boundary junction remodel will not be taking place until at least Spring 2027, during these works the signalling will also be upgraded on the line and Butetown station will open at the same time.

Phase 1A of the crossrail project works will be starting later this year as you have mentioned. I do think that money would have been better spent providing additional OLE which the tram-trains really needed though.

Cardiff already had a good bus service to and from Cardiff Bay to the back of the station, previously operated by number 6 bendy buses. This is a massive waste of money in my opinion, and will be littered with taxis parked blocking the route.

The whole point of this section of street running is that it unlocks the whole Crossrail route - from NW Cardiff via Bay to East Cardiff. It is simply Phase 1A of a larger project.

Phase 1B extends eastwards to Pierhead Street.

Phase 2 (numbering is now my guess..) will connect westwards to mainline routes enabling services from Penarth and/or Radyr to connect to Bay.

Phase 3 will extend from Pierhead to Cardiff East (Newport Rd/Rover Way)

Phase 4 will extend north-west to Creigiau.

None of this is possible without Phase 1A and so a Bendybus wouldnt do it.

 

[spaniel]

I think this was asked previously but didn't get a reply, is anyone aware of what the Rhymney line closure is for this week? Just being nosey, sorry if I missed anything.

 

[MikePJ]

Not sure, to be honest. Given they've shut the entire line including the Coryton branch it's likely to be something either system-wide or something that's close to Queen St.

Meanwhile, we do have planned closures in the schedule for the Bay line in March (Sundays 15th and 22nd) ahead of its nominal wires-go-live date on the 23rd. The 22nd is a major shutdown with basically the entire network through Queen St closed - buses from Caerphilly and Pontypridd into Cardiff.

 

[Cardiff123]

Not sure, to be honest. Given they've shut the entire line including the Coryton branch it's likely to be something either system-wide or something that's close to Queen St.

Meanwhile, we do have planned closures in the schedule for the Bay line in March (Sundays 15th and 22nd) ahead of its nominal wires-go-live date on the 23rd. The 22nd is a major shutdown with basically the entire network through Queen St closed - buses from Caerphilly and Pontypridd into Cardiff.

Coryton is still open this week for half hourly trains from Penarth. The line is shut north of Heath High Level.

Engineering work for the South Wales Metro project is taking place between Heath High Level and Aber, closing all lines. Trains will run to / from Coryton as normal.

Rail improvement works | Transport for Wales

Transport for Wales | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

tfw.wales

 

[tigermonstera]

I think this was asked previously but didn't get a reply, is anyone aware of what the Rhymney line closure is for this week? Just being nosey, sorry if I missed anything.

Works on the Caerphilly Tunnel:

Rail services on the Rhymney line will be suspended next week for essential maintenance works in Caerphilly tunnel.

Transport for Wales (TfW) has confirmed that no trains will run between Rhymney and Cardiff from Sunday, February 22 to Saturday February 28.

A TfW spokesperson said maintenance teams will be working inside the Caerphilly tunnel to carry out “vital masonry repairs and waterproofing work”.

The spokesperson added that closing the line this week, during the half-term holiday, would have meant disruption for fans getting to and from Cardiff for Wales’ Six Nations clash with Scotland on Saturday February 21.

 

[spaniel]

Works on the Caerphilly Tunnel:

Interesting, thank you!

 

[MikePJ]

Coryton is still open this week for half hourly trains from Penarth. The line is shut north of Heath High Level.

Rail improvement works | Transport for Wales

Transport for Wales | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

tfw.wales

Thanks for the correction, got myself muddled.

 

[AdamWW]

Coryton is still open this week for half hourly trains from Penarth. The line is shut north of Heath High Level.

Yesterday and today several Coryton-bound trains appear to have been delayed between Queen Street and Heath Junction, one of them by 10 minutes, despite in each case the previous train not being late off the branch.

Does anyone have an idea of what might have caused the delays, given that there aren't any Rhymney line trains to get in the way?

It seems unlikely that it would be problems with the trains themselves since it's happening in such a specific location.

 

[positron]

Cardiff already had a good bus service to and from Cardiff Bay to the back of the station, previously operated by number 6 bendy buses. This is a massive waste of money in my opinion.

I would tend to agree and still do think that without the ramp at central it's far less useful, but it's a requirement for the wider expansions which absolutely should happen especially to the underserved eastern end of the city. They should have done a far better job with the PR on it especially with the funding announcements.

Also worth being aware that a large chunk of the money will be for the road changes which are part of a wider plan to discourage road travel in the city. It'll also include a cycleway and whatnot so not all of the money is on the line itself.

 

[Randomer]

As preparatory works for the potential "Cardiff Crossrail" then it starts to make more sense. Also as a properly integrated tram option, I think, will be more appealing than a bus service for most occasional public transport users for the new arena or the Millennium Centre (WMC). Especially if it is on a single ticket from a park and ride station.

I think the take-up will be far higher than people looking at the "take a train and then a bus on two tickets" vs "drive and park in the bay" options. The new Arena isn't adding any parking and the current Q-park is pretty much full when a show happens in the WMC already. A consultation has already gone out to make the local area into residents only parking. If both venues have a show on I think people will be looking at public transport due to the lack of parking more than anything else.

 

[AdamWW]

Oddly, the Penarth-Coryton services today (not running to Caerphilly as the line is closed) started out as usual as an all 756/0 service, but later on all three units were replaced with 150s for a bit of nostalgia.

 

[Cardiff4]

Oddly, the Penarth-Coryton services today (not running to Caerphilly as the line is closed) started out as usual as an all 756/0 service, but later on all three units were replaced with 150s for a bit of nostalgia.

Maybe the overhead power has been switched off because of the work taking place on the Rhymney Valley line. I caught a 756 on Monday evening and noticed when I got off the train at Birchgrove that the "pan" was down. Perhaps operating all day on batteries isn't reliable enough and TfW have reverted to using 150s.

 

[VR494]

With the Cardiff Bay branch soon to be live in March on the 22nd, and driver training to begin, hopefully in April on the new metro units (398’s), I’d thought I’d share with you all what might happen to services later on this year.

Currently as you maybe aware the 398’s have a limited capacity on battery, roughly around 6.5 miles, with no immediate changes to infrastructure planned, except the potential of electrification from Cardiff to Cogan for tram-train operation to Penarth, customers may need to change trains a bit more than they do at the moment to complete their journey.

Not confirmed, but the current Treherbert services towards Cardiff may alternative their route, and enter Cardiff via the city line from Radyr, terminate and return via the city line. Shortening their journey off wire. Aberdare and Merthyr services will also alternate to terminate at Cardiff Bay, with customers required to change at Queen street for services onto Cardiff Central and VOG. These provided by class 756 flirt units.

Current Pontypridd services maybe be extended towards Treherbert, from Cardiff Bay increasing the frequency.

Customers on the city line would loose a direct train until the new Cardiff West junction is remodelled allowing frequency to be increased on the city line.

The above is not confirmed, but don’t be surprised if you don’t see many 398’s coming through Cardiff Central. Their main hub will be towards Cardiff Bay.

There is also going to be a new train crew facility built at Cardiff Bay when the new platform is complete, potentially adding another depot to the network.

 

[chargesmith]

With the Cardiff Bay branch soon to be live in March on the 22nd, and driver training to begin, hopefully in April on the new metro units (398’s), I’d thought I’d share with you all what might happen to services later on this year.

Currently as you maybe aware the 398’s have a limited capacity on battery, roughly around 6.5 miles, with no immediate changes to infrastructure planned, except the potential of electrification from Cardiff to Cogan for tram-train operation to Penarth, customers may need to change trains a bit more than they do at the moment to complete their journey.

Not confirmed, but the current Treherbert services towards Cardiff may alternative their route, and enter Cardiff via the city line from Radyr, terminate and return via the city line. Shortening their journey off wire. Aberdare and Merthyr services will also alternate to terminate at Cardiff Bay, with customers required to change at Queen street for services onto Cardiff Central and VOG. These provided by class 756 flirt units.

Current Pontypridd services maybe be extended towards Treherbert, from Cardiff Bay increasing the frequency.

Customers on the city line would loose a direct train until the new Cardiff West junction is remodelled allowing frequency to be increased on the city line.

The above is not confirmed, but don’t be surprised if you don’t see many 398’s coming through Cardiff Central. Their main hub will be towards Cardiff Bay.

There is also going to be a new train crew facility built at Cardiff Bay when the new platform is complete, potentially adding another depot to the network.

I would take that 6.5 mile figure with a heavy pinch of salt. It's more likely to be a minimum range in extreme conditions (e.g. unit at full passenger capacity, in winter with heaters on, repeatedly accelerating to maximum unit speed) than a maximum range.

Given the slow line speed between Cathays and Ninian Park (most of which is 15-25mph) the units are not going to require a huge amount of energy to move around the wire free section.