South Wales 'Metro' updates

[Tram Inn SB]

Which if it's correct that the Bay line electrification is operational is managing to work without running out of juice. That must be around the same mileage as a unit will cover if continuing down from Cathays onto the City Line before it finds some juice again, suggesting that the comments by a regular poster that they won't be able to cover that journey are somewhat pessimistic?

Or does it mean the Bay line is now live and operational?

The electrical section for the Bay isn’t under a block to electric traction aka it’s live.

 

[Bob Price]

The electrical section for the Bay isn’t under a block to electric traction aka it’s live.

The unit testing done there this afternoon was operated on batteries. I took some video of it and popped it onto YouTube, showing the unit entering and exiting the station.

 

[Tram Inn SB]

The unit testing done there this afternoon was operated on batteries. I took some video of it and popped it onto YouTube, showing the unit entering and exiting the station.

So it’s using the battery power for a fair time from Llandaff to the Bay, back to Queen St, down to the Bay and back to Llandaff.

 

[AdamWW]

So it’s using the battery power for a fair time from Llandaff to the Bay, back to Queen St, down to the Bay and back to Llandaff.

And also for the gap in the wires through Taffs Well.

 

[Philip Roberts]

The unit testing done there this afternoon was operated on batteries. I took some video of it and popped it onto YouTube, showing the unit entering and exiting the station.

Are all the works at Cardiff Bay station finished?

 

[Bob Price]

Are all the works at Cardiff Bay station finished?

No. Paving and stone sets going in at the moment and then the entrance needs to be built. No idea how much longer.

 

[MikePJ]

No. Paving and stone sets going in at the moment and then the entrance needs to be built. No idea how much longer.

Also no sign of the station building, which is supposed to go on the platform.

Meanwhile at Butetown there’s some brick/blockwork going in to create the access stairs and clad the lift tower for the northbound platform on Bute St.

 

[AdamWW]

No. Paving and stone sets going in at the moment and then the entrance needs to be built. No idea how much longer.

If I recall correctly there's a foot crossing at the northern end so presumably the arrangements can't be totally finished until the line goes over to line-of-sight operation.

 

[positron]

If I recall correctly there's a foot crossing at the northern end so presumably the arrangements can't be totally finished until the line goes over to line-of-sight operation.

I think that's just got temprorary (but properly installed) fencing likewise the crossing at bute town has the same. Then they can just unbolt that once it's line of sight, which won't happen till late 2027 iirc.

 

[Bob Price]

Also no sign of the station building, which is supposed to go on the platform

I believe, and could be wrong, that is sitting in kit form, by the Travel Lodge opposite just off Hemingway Road. Of course that is all blocked off now for Arena works.

 

[MikePJ]

No. Paving and stone sets going in at the moment and then the entrance needs to be built. No idea how much longer.

Here’s the state of Cardiff Bay’s new paving this morning.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 May 2026 ==

I think that's just got temprorary (but properly installed) fencing likewise the crossing at bute town has the same. Then they can just unbolt that once it's line of sight, which won't happen till late 2027 iirc.

Yes, that’s correct. A concrete slab with ramp and steps has been laid at the city end of Cardiff Bay for a future foot crossing of the line, but it stops short of Lloyd George Avenue and is fenced off at thd platform end. There is also supposed to be a new foot crossing between the two stations but there’s no sign of it as yet.

 

[Tram Inn SB]

There is a critical engineering possession on the Bay branch this weekend, IF successful then 398 testing on the newly energised will commence during closes service (0100-0400) period next Monday onwards.

With the potential for a single “locked in” 398 doing Queen Street to the Bay shuttles / subject to unit and crew being available.

If the possession works aren’t successful and 150 will be used on Queen Street to Bay shuttles UFN.

At the present the OLE isn’t energised due to a fault which was realised some weeks ago when the original switch on was planned.

The move of signalling from Cardiff ROC to TfW Taff Well is planned for April 27, once this is done the plan is to push the Queen street remodelling forward and the new line of sight operation with 398s on the Bay.

 

[AdamWW]

If the possession works aren’t successful and 150 will be used on Queen Street to Bay shuttles UFN.

Does this mean that the current Pontypridd to Cardiff Bay service will no longer run between Queen Street and Pontypridd?

 

[Tram Inn SB]

Does this mean that the current Pontypridd to Cardiff Bay service will no longer run between Queen Street and Pontypridd?

Pass, I'm only privy to the arrangements in relation to this weekend and the next couple.

 

[AdamWW]

Pass, I'm only privy to the arrangements in relation to this weekend and the next couple.

Thanks for the information anyway and it will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[EveningStarr]

This appeared at Queen Street yesterday, in public view on the platform fences. It's implying the blockade this weekend will not be for OLE testing. (I blanked out the contact details)

 

[MikePJ]

Is it possible that the wires can be energised during the possession, provided that they're de-energised before it's handed back to normal operation? The notice above is primarily about notifying rail staff about live wires during normal operation of the railway.

 

[Tram Inn SB]

This appeared at Queen Street yesterday, in public view on the platform fences. It's implying the blockade this weekend will not be for OLE testing. (I blanked out the contact details)View attachment 204510

Well - someone is being misleading then……the information I have is the possession is to rectify faults and energise the limited OLE on the Bay.

They will be switched then, all being well then switched off with a block to electric traction during service hours, then switched on again after hours to allow 398 testing as per my initial post, all being well of course.

Either way I’m not bother take it as you will.

 

[Philip Roberts]

Well - someone is being misleading then……the information I have is the possession is to rectify faults and energise the limited OLE on the Bay.

They will be switched then, all being well then switched off with a block to electric traction during service hours, then switched on again after hours to allow 398 testing as per my initial post, all being well of course.

Either way I’m not bother take it as you will.

This is really useful info. Thanks

 

[Tram Inn SB]

This appeared at Queen Street yesterday, in public view on the platform fences. It's implying the blockade this weekend will not be for OLE testing. (I blanked out the contact details)View attachment 204510

This sign is in relation to the “extensions lead” from the feeder station north of QS and the commencement of OLE on the Bay branch, the same is placed on the other extension leads up the Rhymney and TAM valleys.

 

[Sterre]

Looks like additional track works are taking place on the Butetown branch line over the next few weeks.
Adding the second set of tracks I assume.

 

[MikePJ]

Interesting! The signalling changes to support a second track won’t happen until next year, so it seems unlikely that both tracks will be used before then.

 

[Tram Inn SB]

Interesting! The signalling changes to support a second track won’t happen until next year, so it seems unlikely that both tracks will be used before then.

Highly doubtful yes.

 

[enapace]

Is the second track required for the Cardiff central trains ?

 

[Tram Inn SB]

Is the second track required for the Cardiff central trains ?

Additional trains to / from Cardiff bay and the bay metro, it’s linked in with the remodel of QS.

Network Rail won’t accept the desired line of sight signalling method TfW want to use on the branch hence the need for recontrol of signalling to TfW prior to commissioning.

 

[enapace]

Additional trains to / from Cardiff bay and the bay metro, it’s linked in with the remodel of QS.

Network Rail won’t accept the desired line of sight signalling method TfW want to use on the branch hence the need for recontrol of signalling to TfW prior to commissioning.

Ah thanks for info just waiting for the train back from the bay now defo seems like a construction site down here. The 1st platform hasn’t got the overhead wires yet by looks of it only the second platform does.

 

[snalty]

Lots of services cancelled this morning due to overrunning engineering works at Cardiff Central.

 

[AdamWW]

Lots of services cancelled this morning due to overrunning engineering works at Cardiff Central.

That's unfortunate.

And having looked at the TfW web site, I see: "Network Rail and Amey Infrastructure have been carrying out planned engineering works. Unfortunately we have been told the work will take longer than anticipated"

It doesn't seem a good look to me to take over infrastructure then act as if engineering work on it by their subcontractor is nothing to do with them.
I don't seem to recall press releases on how wonderful all the electrification work was with titles like "Amey Infrastructure completes electrification on the Valley Lines".

[Edited to add: I've just looked it up, and the introduction to the press release on completing electrification said: "Transport for Wales has completed the full electrification of the Core Valley lines"
(Link at https://news.tfw.wales/news/100-percent-electrification-of-the-core-valley-lines-complete)]

On a more positive note, when I used the rail replacement buses yesterday everything was going very smoothly, with staff helpful and friendly despite the heat.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2026 ==

Also, this morning they seem to have put a comprehensive set of bus ticket acceptance in place at presumably rather short notice so full marks to them for that.

 

[59CosG95]

That's unfortunate.

And having looked at the TfW web site, I see: "Network Rail and Amey Infrastructure have been carrying out planned engineering works. Unfortunately we have been told the work will take longer than anticipated"

It doesn't seem a good look to me to take over infrastructure then act as if engineering work on it by their subcontractor is nothing to do with them.
I don't seem to recall press releases on how wonderful all the electrification work was with titles like "Amey Infrastructure completes electrification on the Valley Lines".

[Edited to add: I've just looked it up, and the introduction to the press release on completing electrification said: "Transport for Wales has completed the full electrification of the Core Valley lines"
(Link at https://news.tfw.wales/news/100-percent-electrification-of-the-core-valley-lines-complete)]

On a more positive note, when I used the rail replacement buses yesterday everything was going very smoothly, with staff helpful and friendly despite the heat.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2026 ==

Also, this morning they seem to have put a comprehensive set of bus ticket acceptance in place at presumably rather short notice so full marks to them for that.

If the works were at Cardiff Central, that would be Network Rail, not TfW/Amey Infrastructure.

 

[trainspotter4]

Any details of what is actually overrunning as they're saying delays to end of day now (yet looking at things, don't see any processions etc), one thing I will give credit to Network Rail over Amey Infrastructure, when things go wrong on Network Rail infrastructure, it's resolved usually within a given X period of time (commonly a few hours at most). TfW/Amey default whenever something goes wrong on the CVL is end of day (then usually resolved overnight), it's not often it's as quickly resolved compared to NR. Recent example is the points failure at Heath Junction etc.