South Wales 'Metro' updates

[edwin_m]

I was in Caerphilly yesterday and note that nothing has happened regarding building the new transport interchange at the station. Anyone got any news about when they will actually get on with this?

Just in the course of letting a contract to update the design.

 

[Daniel Boone]

I was in Caerphilly yesterday and note that nothing has happened regarding building the new transport interchange at the station. Anyone got any news about when they will actually get on with this?

Planning permission was given/granted in 2024. (Ref. 23/0771/FULL)
The project has recently gone out to tender with a deadline of August 26th.

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL638344

A two stage tender process, consisting of Request to Participate (R2P) stage and Invitation to Tender Stage (ITT) for the Design & Build of Caerphilly Interchange.

The Caerphilly Interchange Project comprises the procurement of a single Design and Build contractor to deliver the redevelopment of Caerphilly railway station and adjoining bus interchange into a modern, fully integrated multi‑modal transport hub.

The works include demolition of existing infrastructure and construction of a new interchange facility incorporating rail, bus, taxi and active travel connectivity, alongside enhanced passenger amenities, retail space, and public realm improvements. The scheme forms a key component of wider regeneration ambitions and the South Wales Metro programme...

Unfortunately, it seems this development has prompted the area's MS (Linsday Whittle, Plaid Cymru) to publicly urge residents to oppose the plans (Though planning permission is already being granted) - as a frequent user of this station a U-turn on these plans at this stage would be very disappointing.
https://nation.cymru/news/a-waste-of-public-money-plaid-ms-slams-towns-transport-interchange-plan/

Plaid Cymru MS, Lindsay Whittle, who represents Blaenau Gwent, Caerffili and Rhymni, is a long standing opponent of the development in Caerphilly which, he says, is not needed.

 

[Envoy]

Many thanks for the info edwin & Daniel. I had been expecting to see work in progress. (The town looked absolutely ramshackle and over looking the castle were two large shops in 1960’s/70’s concrete bunker architecture).

 

[John R]

A bit odd, as if the MP is so against it, surely all he has to do is persuade the Transport Minister to cancel it and reallocate the £33m elsewhere. Or has it not dawned on him yet that his party is in power and effectively controls TfW?

 

[Cardiff123]

What exactly is happening during the 3 day closure of Queen Street this weekend? Will the Cardiff Bay wires finally get energised?

 

[Zoomer]

Wouldn't make much sense to add toilets to both [Llwynypia and Tonypandy] and only Tonypandy shows as getting them according to the last electrification document (from Dec 2023).

Just a small update: their plans must have changed at some point, as a toilet building was installed at Llwynypia station this week.

 

[Last Hurrah]

Planning permission was given/granted in 2024. (Ref. 23/0771/FULL)
The project has recently gone out to tender with a deadline of August 26th.

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL638344

Unfortunately, it seems this development has prompted the area's MS (Linsday Whittle, Plaid Cymru) to publicly urge residents to oppose the plans (Though planning permission is already being granted) - as a frequent user of this station a u-turn on these plans at this stage would be very disappointing.
https://nation.cymru/news/a-waste-of-public-money-plaid-ms-slams-towns-transport-interchange-plan/

Is it the buildings on the road bridge that he wants to preserve, rather than the current station building ?

 

[Christian Schm]

Well that project is part-funded by the Cardiff Capital Region. So the council will have just send back a quarter 1 report to the Welsh Government (including April-June progress and July-Sepetmber outlook). I guess you could ask either for them for a copy...

 

[Daniel Boone]

Is it the buildings on the road bridge that he wants to preserve, rather than the current station building ?

There is an old and somewhat characterful ticket office atop the road bridge, which understandably he would like to see preserved. It has long since been turned into a collection of retail units which have been progressively vacated over the past year pending the redevelopment works. It has not been a functional part of the station in this millennium but they are part of the TFW estate.

It really is a shame that they couldn't be preserved. I believe this is down to structural issues with the bridge they sit on, though I'm sure if more capital were available an effort could be made.

 

[The Pelican]

Looks like someone started a Change.org petition to try and save it about a year ago:

Sign the Petition

Save the historic ticket office at Caerphilly train station

www.change.org

Caerphilly County Borough Council have submitted a planning application to demolish the old ticket office which sits alongside Cardiff Road railway bridge; as part of a wider redevelopment project...

...This petition calls for a review of the proposed designs to conserve and retain the old ticket office as an integral part of any redevelopment of the station area. And to better reflect the town's rich railway heritage as part of the new Metro proposals.

1,477 verified signatures

 

[positron]

Does anyone happen to know what the current lot of engineering works are actually doing? I'm hoping it's level boarding adjustments but they've only explicitly called that out for one station afaik.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Does anyone happen to know what the current lot of engineering works are actually doing? I'm hoping it's level boarding adjustments but they've only explicitly called that out for one station afaik.

Also, does anyone know what the engineering works were that closed Queen Street last weekend? TfW were being elusive and didn't go into any detail that I could see.

 

[EveningStarr]

Also, does anyone know what the engineering works were that closed Queen Street last weekend? TfW were being elusive and didn't go into any detail that I could see.

They were working on the signal gantries, installing a new gantry at the south end of p4+5 (pictured) and doing trackwork in the station and on the Newport Road bridge (no photos of that sorry).

 

[59CosG95]

They were working on the signal gantries, installing a new gantry at the south end of p4+5 (pictured) and doing trackwork in the station and on the Newport Road bridge (no photos of that sorry).View attachment 208711View attachment 208712

Are they slewing lines to the right in the second picture? The gantry's position certainly suggests so.

Good to see the electrical clearance for any potential future OLE being accounted for too.

 

[EveningStarr]

Are they slewing lines to the right in the second picture? The gantry's position certainly suggests so.

Sort of, yes. There's a post way back in this thread of the planned track alterations at Queen Street South Jn, where it extends the Up Llandaff Loop (plt5 track) southwards to enable trains coming up from Central to arrive at p5 at the same time as a train from the Bay arrives at p4.

 

[AdamWW]

Also, does anyone know what the engineering works were that closed Queen Street last weekend? TfW were being elusive and didn't go into any detail that I could see.

Yes the posters I saw just said that the station would be closed - they didn't even say it was for engineering works.

 

[positron]

Network Rail offers one-year support for Transport for Wales Bristol plan

TfW confident it will be able to start running West Wales-Bristol Temple Mills services from December.

www.railmagazine.com

Network Rail offers one-year support for Transport for Wales Bristol plan

In representations to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), NR has said it supports the plan for up to nine services a day but only for two timetable periods with demand on the Severn Tunnel set to increase from December 2027 onwards.

Tata’s new electric arc furnace, which will result in increased volumes of steel trains in both directions, is also due to be completed in late 2027 or early 2028, whereas new ‘Burns’ stations in South East Wales are due to appear from 2032 onwards.

(Emphasis mine)

Interesting that a timeline of 2032+ for the new Burn's stations has been provided, I don't think I've seen a date given anywhere before. A bit disappointing that they they're still 5 years away? (I think we're counting these as metro related right?)

 

[enapace]

Wow 2032 that’s a little insane the funding for them was given over a year ago already and they must have had proper plans before they requested the funding.

I think they are classed as the south wales mainline not metro though. As they aren’t devolved to the Welsh government as far as I know?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Wow 2032 that’s a little insane the funding for them was given over a year ago already and they must of had proper plans before they requested the funding.

I think they are classed as the south wales mainline not metro though. As they aren’t devolved to the Welsh government as far as I know?

Wasn't it just start up money?
My notes have "£2.7m from the UK government to start the process of adding 5 new stations on the SWML between Cardiff & Severn Tunnel Junction". But I don't have the source to hand. Five 170m (8 x 20m) island platforms will cost a little bit more than £2.7m. Doubt you would get one side of one platform for that.

 

[Farigiraf]

Wow 2032 that’s a little insane the funding for them was given over a year ago already and they must of had proper plans before they requested the funding.

Would the M4 relief road be completed any sooner if it was uncancelled the moment Plaid won the Senedd elections?

I'm doubtful, especially considering there's no chance it would've been able to start without facing a lot of objections by those opposing the construction of more urban motorways, let alone one passing through numerous SSSIs. That's before you add in the unreasonable NIMBYs. Then 10 years later we restart the discussion once the relief road fills up as well.

I don't think the Burns stations will generate enough mode shift to meaningfully reduce traffic on the M4 - for that you probably also need 2tph to Abergavenny, 4tph to Bristol and notably cheaper rail fares.

Plus much better public transport connectivity and active travel options in car-dependent suburbs like Caerleon, Malpas and the mess that is Cwmbran's urban layout in general - as in these places, getting in the car and driving straight to Cardiff is hard to compete against, with or without M4 congestion.

But it's progress, even if it's unreasonably slow, as opposed to the backwards step that opting for mediocre public transport provision in the Newport area alongside motorway expansion would be.

 

[WelshBluebird]

In terms of costs, not sure what is normal but at least in terms of reported costs Ashley Down cost about £16m and Okehampton interchange cost £18m. Aren't the new stations also dependent on upgrades to the relief lines which will also cost a fair whack I'd have thought.

 

[MikePJ]

Five years doesn't seem outrageous, given that the present status is outline design.

None of the sites have planning permission (some will be permitted development under existing railway legislation, but there is still a formal consultation process to go through even in that case), no contracts have been tendered for, let alone awarded, and there are a load of track and signalling upgrades to the relief lines that will enable this.

Planning and engineering really does just take time.

To give an example - Cambridge South station has just opened in the summer of 2026. It was awarded £5m from Westminster in 2017 to start the design process, with further funding being confirmed in 2020 and a Transport & Works Act Order being applied for in June 2021 and awarded in December 2022 (so 18 months just to get that approval).

Construction started in January 2023, with a projected opening date of December 2025, and the station opened in the summer of 2026. So that's 9 years from first funding to station opening, and the construaction itself was 3.5 years.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

In terms of costs, not sure what is normal but at least in terms of reported costs Ashley Down cost about £16m and Okehampton interchange cost £18m. Aren't the new stations also dependent on upgrades to the relief lines which will also cost a fair whack I'd have thought.

Wasn't it just start up money?
My notes have "£2.7m from the UK government to start the process of adding 5 new stations on the SWML between Cardiff & Severn Tunnel Junction". But I don't have the source to hand. Five 170m (8 x 20m) island platforms will cost a little bit more than £2.7m. Doubt you would get one side of one platform for that.

In response to @WelshBluebird, yes, £385m in total.

Then, quoting and correcting myself!

The Spending Review last year allocated a large sum of money for rail projects. The BBC article, published on 10 June 2025 doesn't entirely make sense as it states £445m over 10 years then lists three activities totalling £486m. The following is an edited extract:

New stations in £445m 10-year Wales rail plan

New rail projects for Wales worth £445m were announced by the Labour Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in her spending review on Wednesday.

The Treasury backed plans for five new stations in Cardiff, Newport and Monmouthshire, as well as upgrades in north Wales, with £348m to be spent between 2026 and 2030.

The rest of the cash will be spent over ten years. The announcement follows years of complaints from Welsh Labour of underinvestment in the Welsh railway network.

According to the Treasury, the £445m will be spent on fixing level crossings, building new stations and upgrading existing lines, and is a combination of direct funding for schemes and cash for the Welsh government.

They include new stations at Cardiff East, near the city's Newport Road, and in the west of Newport. There are hopes for a station in the eastern Newport suburbs of Somerton and Llanwern, and one that will serve the Monmouthshire villages of Magor and Undy, along with improvements to the mainline to allow local services to run.

The work is estimated to cost £385m over at least five years.

BBC Wales was told that the figure also includes £48m for the Welsh government's enhancements to the Core Valley Lines network.

Around £90m is thought to be earmarked for work on a series of future projects over ten years.

Source: BBC News: New stations in £445m 10-year Wales rail plan

 

[enapace]

Five years doesn't seem outrageous given that the present status is outline design. None of the sites have planning permission (some will be permitted development under existing railway legislation, but there is still a formal consultation process to go through even in that case), no contracts have been tendered for, let alone awarded, and there are a load of track and signalling upgrades to the relief lines that will enable this. Planning and engineering really does just take time. To give an example - Cambridge South station has just opened in the summer of 2026. It was awarded £5m from Westminster in 2017 to start the design process, with further funding being confirmed in 2020 and a Transport & Works Act Order being applied for in June 2021 and awarded in December 2022 (so 18 months just to get that approval). Construction started in January 2023 with a projected opening date of December 2025, and the station opened in the summer of 2026. So that's 9 years from first funding to station opening, and the construaction itself was 3.5 years.

True enough I guess thinking on it yeah Crwys Road has had planning permission for years locked in at this point and nothing has started still with that

 

[positron]

I guess I was hoping that they'd be able to start on some of the stations before the relief lines were fully upgraded. Especially Magor and Undy. Though perhaps they also know that they won't have the trains to run the services anytime soon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Aug 2026 ==

Someone recently was asking about Caerphilly interchange. It seems TfW have very recently launched the procurement process to find the company to make it a reality.

£33m race begins for Caerphilly bus and railway interchange

Main works to start in spring next year following a two-stage conest

www.constructionenquirer.com

Transport for Wales is starting the hunt for a contractor to deliver the £33m redevelopment of Caerphilly Interchange, opening the race for one of the next major projects in the South Wales Metro programme

Shortlisted bidders will be invited to submit final tenders in November, with contract award scheduled for February 2027.

The £33m job is expected to run from March 2027 until March 2030, with provision to extend into 2031 if required to complete the works

 

[Dr Day]

Though perhaps they also know that they won't have the trains to run the services anytime soon.

Are trains the problem or paths?

 

[positron]

Are trains the problem or paths?

Potentially both? The ORR in their infinite wisdom granted access rights to First group for some nice revenue abstraction and so there's even less free space in the severn tunnel then there otherwise might have been.

But I also don't think TfW have (m)any free trains to run these services, unless they're purely existing services with new stops which might cut down the unit requirement.

I think all the metro routes (including Ebbw vale, Maesteg, and Cheltenham) have pretty maxed out fleet usage planned already.

 

[Qing4theloo]

Just* seen something decidedly FLIRT-like go through Llantwit Major on the VOG line towards Cardiff. Test run maybe?
(*11:35. Scheduled trains to Cardiff usually pass through at <hr>:57)

 

[oglord]

Just* seen something decidedly FLIRT-like go through Llantwit Major on the VOG line towards Cardiff. Test run maybe?
(*11:35. Scheduled trains to Cardiff usually pass through at <hr>:57)

There are test 231s on the mainline to Gloucester today too...

 

[tfw756rider]

Just* seen something decidedly FLIRT-like go through Llantwit Major on the VOG line towards Cardiff. Test run maybe?
(*11:35. Scheduled trains to Cardiff usually pass through at <hr>:57)

Yes, another user posted in the 231/756 thread their sighting of 756113 at Llantwit Major with photos.