South Wales 'Metro' updates

[ExeBlueBird27]

Hirwaun was always on the table as the first (of hopefully many over the course of time) real extension of rail services. Hope Plaid can make this happen, in a world of diminiahing oil resources and sky high diesel prices we need these projects to come to fruition.

 

[Snow1964]

The extension to Hirwaun would be a quick win and help justify the use of Tram-trains. The proposal does not include a station where the line goes under the A4069 - which I would have thought was an obvious place for a station with parking being the nearest point to outlying places such as Penderyn. Ideally, such a station could be served by a bus link to Tower zip line and in the other direction - Penderyn - both for the locals and tourists to the distillery and footpath to Scwd-Yr-Eira Waterfall. (This would also help even out the flow of passengers with commuters heading south to Cardiff & tourists heading north).

The consultation appears to include 2 stations : Hirwaun and Llwydcoed

But I agree, shame there isn't a park and ride by Gellitaw Farm where the line crosses under A465 Heads of the Valleys Road or where it crosses A4069

Public engagement opens on proposed Aberdare to Hirwaun Metro extension

Transport for Wales (TfW) in partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, has launched public engagement on proposals to extend passenger rail services from Aberdare to Hirwaun.

news.tfw.wales

 

[Farigiraf]

A not particularly important question that's nonetheless been on my mind: The Hirwaun extension is being designed as a tramway (to cut costs) and will be served by tram-trains. However, the rest of the route is a National Rail service run on heavy rail through proper NR stations. Will Hirwaun and Llwydcoed stations be National Rail stations or not?

Either way it'd be a bit strange. You'd either have 2 tram stops served by trams that are officially NR stations (while Rotherham Parkgate and Magna aren't) or you'd have a National Rail service that stops at two tram stops at the end of the route, which would be a bit of a nightmare for the rail ticketing system and Darwin to handle.

 

[John R]

A not particularly important question that's nonetheless been on my mind: The Hirwaun extension is being designed as a tramway (to cut costs) and will be served by tram-trains. However, the rest of the route is a National Rail service run on heavy rail through proper NR stations. Will Hirwaun and Llwydcoed stations be National Rail stations or not?

Either way it'd be a bit strange. You'd either have 2 tram stops served by trams that are officially NR stations (while Rotherham Parkgate and Magna aren't) or you'd have a National Rail service that stops at two tram stops at the end of the route, which would be a bit of a nightmare for the rail ticketing system and Darwin to handle.

I would have thought the legal definition of how the railway is run will have absolutely no impact on how the railway is marketed (which is effectively what National Rail is).

So I would expect the two new stations to be treated in exactly the same way as all the other valley line stations.

 

[AdamWW]

Either way it'd be a bit strange. You'd either have 2 tram stops served by trams that are officially NR stations (while Rotherham Parkgate and Magna aren't)

I don't think you need to wait for the Hirwaun extension to happen. Unless I've misunderstood or plans have changed, Cardiff Bay and Butetown station will in due course be on a line operating under line of sight operation, tramway style. Of course the stations will still have heavy rail high platforms, though I think Cardiff Bay will have a foot crossing that wouldn't be appropriate for a heavy rail line.

Personally I don't see it as being all that strange.

 

[Akela]

A not particularly important question that's nonetheless been on my mind: The Hirwaun extension is being designed as a tramway (to cut costs) and will be served by tram-trains. However, the rest of the route is a National Rail service run on heavy rail through proper NR stations. Will Hirwaun and Llwydcoed stations be National Rail stations or not?

Either way it'd be a bit strange. You'd either have 2 tram stops served by trams that are officially NR stations (while Rotherham Parkgate and Magna aren't) or you'd have a National Rail service that stops at two tram stops at the end of the route, which would be a bit of a nightmare for the rail ticketing system and Darwin to handle.

The station infrastructure being built to light rail standards doesn’t really impact the way they’ll appear in the ticketing system. I don’t see why they wouldn’t be “National Rail” stations and appear as a destination in ticket machines or apps etc.

Important to note however they won’t be Network Rail stations, as they’re on the CVL network which is owned and operated by TFW directly, a bit like how the Elizabeth Line core section is owned by TFL.

 

[MikePJ]

The consultation appears to include 2 stations : Hirwaun and Llwydcoed

But I agree, shame there isn't a park and ride by Gellitaw Farm where the line crosses under A465 Heads of the Valleys Road or where it crosses A4069

Public engagement opens on proposed Aberdare to Hirwaun Metro extension

Transport for Wales (TfW) in partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, has launched public engagement on proposals to extend passenger rail services from Aberdare to Hirwaun.

news.tfw.wales

I suspect that the additional station that's mentioned for the Tower Colliery site might include a large car park as part of the redevelopment.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Oct 2026 ==

The wording of the consultation document (attached below for future reference as they often disappear) says:

• Up to four trains per hour between Aberdare and Llwydcoed
• Up to two trains per hour between Hirwaun and Cardiff
• Direct Metro connections between Hirwaun, Aberdare, Pontypridd and Cardiff

That sounds like only half of the trains arriving from Aberdare continue to Hirwaun, with the rest terminating at Llwydcoed?

 

[WelshBluebird]

Not sure if this fits here, or the Class 398 thread (as the timetable change is dependent on the rollout of the new trains) but it looks like RTT has now been update pushing back the date that the Treherbert line will get 4tph (with the new two to Cardiff Bay). This initially was in RTT for the middle of January but now looks to be from the 5th Feb instead. I wouldn't be surprised to see that get pushed back again tbh.

 

[MikePJ]

The delay to the 398s is possibly also allowing the late-running work on the station toilets to get finished. Here's an update to my last summary of the situation in August:

Aberdare toilets: yes, completed (as of August 2026)
Merthyr Vale toilets: yes, completed (as of October 2026)
Treorchy toilets: not sure (National Rail and TfW's website says no)
Merthyr Tydfil toilets: yes, completed (as of October 2026)
Abercynon toilets: yes, completed (as of October 2026)
Tonypandy toilets: not sure (National Rail and TfW's website says no)
Cwmbach toilets: not sure (National Rail and TfW's website says no)
Llwynypia toilets: not sure (National Rail and TfW's website says no)

Additionally, we now have toilets at Trefforest and Radyr (again, according to TfW's toilets webpage).

So that means that the Merthyr line now has all its planned toilets; the Aberdare line is waiting on toilets at Cwmbach and Penrhiwceiber and the Treherbert line is still waiting on all its toilets (Treherbert, Treorchy, Llynypia, Tonypandy and possibly Porth, though I think the latter is a toilet in the adjacent bus station). Not sure why the Rhondda needs so many facilities but there we are.

So I can see that perhaps introducing the 398s on the Rhondda service might wait for more loos to be ready, especially if work's in progress. Does anyone have any updates?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Thursday at 08:57 ==

A couple of other quick updates from the Cardiff Bay line this morning: Butetown station now has handrails on the concrete staircases on the Lloyd George Avenue side (in TfW red and black, they look very smart) and at Cardiff Bay, the contractors were unloading metal fence panels which will presumably be installed soon to provide a permanent fence around parts of the site. Some of the hoardings have come down and been replaced with "portable" site fencing.

 

[AdamWW]

The delay to the 398s is possibly also allowing the late-running work on the station toilets to get finished. Here's an update to my last summary of the situation in August:

Additionally, we now have toilets at Trefforest and Radyr (again, according to TfW's toilets webpage).

So that means that the Merthyr line now has all its planned toilets; the Aberdare line is waiting on toilets at Cwmbach and Penrhiwceiber and the Treherbert line is still waiting on all its toilets (Treherbert, Treorchy, Llynypia, Tonypandy and possibly Porth, though I think the latter is a toilet in the adjacent bus station). Not sure why the Rhondda needs so many facilities but there we are.

So I can see that perhaps introducing the 398s on the Rhondda service might wait for more loos to be ready, especially if work's in progress. Does anyone have any updates?

Though if you go from 2 trains per hour to 4, 2 of which are lacking loos, there's an argument that you're no worse off than before.

If all 4 trains become 398s then it's different.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Thursday at 10:29 ==

Once once again the Penarth "track defect" has appeared.

Ticket acceptance on local buses, unless of course you're one of the majority using PAYG.

 

[Coleridge]

Once once again the Penarth "track defect" has appeared.

Ticket acceptance on local buses, unless of course you're one of the majority using PAYG.

I have a first class ticket from Penarth to London for today, so it looks like my journey might be free thanks to this mysteriously frequent track defect.

 

[MikePJ]

Cardiff Bay this morning:


Note the black fence panels stacked up at the far side of the site awaiting installation.
There were contractors on platform 1 working on the drainage around the central platform shelter. The site for the station building now has concrete footings and looks ready for the modular building to be installed. There is a week-long blockade of the Bay line from Saturday 24th October, mostly for trackwork, but I wouldn't be surprised if some other remaining jobs around the station get done at the same time.


Butetown now looks like a proper station. The departure screen is powered up and showing a TfW logo.



South entrance:



North entrance

 

[CapitalStar378]

Crazy that with all that money that has been spent on these stations, there are no canopies whatsoever. What is it with TfW thinking that it never rains in Cardiff? lol

 

[MikePJ]

Cardiff Bay has three platform shelters at the moment, so there is at least somewhere to get out of the rain. I suspect Butetown will get one too before long.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Cardiff Bay has three platform shelters at the moment, so there is at least somewhere to get out of the rain. I suspect Butetown will get one too before long.

Yeah, which is better than nothing but not to have any cover over the station concourse area is poor.

 

[AdamWW]

Yeah, which is better than nothing but not to have any cover over the station concourse area is poor.

Odd, isn't it?

Queen Street is one of the busiest stations in Wales but when (what is now) platform 5 was re-opened it just got bus shelters.

 

[MikePJ]

A covered concourse in a station that isn't locked at night potentially becomes a site for rough sleeping. I suspect that's why the Bay didn't get a canopy. The TfW standard platform shelters are definitely designed to minimise their use for rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour.

 

[AdamWW]

and anti-social behaviour.

That bit doesn't work.

 

[Dr Day]

Crazy that with all that money that has been spent on these stations, there are no canopies whatsoever. What is it with TfW thinking that it never rains in Cardiff? lol

Probably thinking on the lines of 'with a 'turn up and go tram system, people shouldn't need to be waiting very long, so a minimal shelter will be enough for the volume of people waiting on average at any one time'. Covered enough to keep the worst of the rain off for a few minutes but open enough to make it undesirable for rough sleeping, as others have said. Manchester Metrolink only has basic shelters, and it rains a fair bit there too.

 

[MikePJ]

The planning drawings (look up 24/00418/VAR on the Cardiff Planning Portal) show that Butetown is supposed to have two platform shelters, one on each platform. I've attached a screengrab.



Cardiff Bay isn't due for any shelters on the concourse area, but the 3D renderings show that the current rather sparse and spartan appearance is what's intended. The station will handle a lot of crowds, so having a big circulating area (and the possibility of building a queueing system as is done at Central on event days) is probably why.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Probably thinking on the lines of 'with a 'turn up and go tram system, people shouldn't need to be waiting very long, so a minimal shelter will be enough for the volume of people waiting on average at any one time'. Covered enough to keep the worst of the rain off for a few minutes but open enough to make it undesirable for rough sleeping, as others have said. Manchester Metrolink only has basic shelters, and it rains a fair bit there too.

What about a few thousand people after an arena show and it's emptying it down? Not ideal.

 

[AdamWW]

What about a few thousand people after an arena show and it's emptying it down? Not ideal.

I don't suppose it's any different to the open air queuing system at Central after matches.

 

[MikePJ]

A couple of relevant bits from Modern Railways:

https://www.modernrailways.com/article/level-boarding-cardiff-queen-street-next-spring

Platform surfaces at Cardiff Queen Street will be raised next year for level access to the Core Valley Lines Class 398 tram-trains and Stadler FLIRT Class 756s. Platform 5, rebuilt in 2014, is already at the required height.

The platform work features in the programme for a major CVL blockade in the spring. Main works will comprise:
* Track and signalling commissioning, including Queen Street junction remodelling;
* Transfer of Rhymney line signalling control from Network Rail’s Wales Rail Operating Centre to TfW’s CVL Integrated Control Centre in Taff’s Well;
* Installing and commissioning the second track on the Cardiff Bay branch; and
* Completion of CVL overhead line electrification.

Initially, the Bay branch only will be blockaded, from 20 March. The main blockade is scheduled for 1 April to 26 April.

https://www.modernrailways.com/article/welsh-government-says-tfw-will-build-stations-network-rail-infrastructure?check_logged_in=1

The Welsh Government says Transport for Wales will build new stations on the South Wales main line, which is not devolved. It urges its UK counterpart to bring forward funding, already allocated so TfW retains skills from the Core Valley Lines modernisation, now nearing completion.

A new Network South-east Wales board will prioritise delivery of Cardiff Parkway and Magor & Undy stations. The latter is the only one of the six proposed stations which does not require significant track and electrification repositioning.

A new M4 options study forecasts the Burns stations would remove 6% of peak traffic from the motorway at Newport.

 

[Lucan]

A large hike in price between Lydney & Chepstow could well induce Lydney people to drive to Chepstow to catch trains - even though parking is limited.

Parking at Chepstow is practically impossible unless you get there very early. It is difficult even to drop somebody off there. Severn Tunnel Junction however has plenty of parking and picks up the trains joining from the tunnel direction too.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Hopefully the £20m can be found and this doesn't get delayed. Link to Wales Online article below.

First phase of Cardiff Crossrail project facing a big cost rise

The first phase of the Cardiff Crossrail long-term vision from Cardiff Council will require additional government funding

www.business-live.co.uk

The cost of the new tram-train route from Cardiff city centre to Cardiff Bay is expected to come in £20m above the initial forecast. The scheme will see tram-trains run from a new dedicated station at the southside of Cardiff Central Station travelling on-street through Callaghan Square. The route will then join the existing heavy railway line running alongside Lloyd George Avenue, which will be modified for tram-trains, before reaching a new platform at Cardiff Bay station.
Work on the project began this summer, with the road network at Callaghan Square being reconfigured to allow tram-trains to run on-street. The scheme will also allow new tram-trains on the South Wales Metro to run from the Valleys to Cardiff Bay, avoiding the need to terminate at Queen Street Station.

However, amid inflationary pressures, and with rail projects in the UK not uncommonly exceeding their initial cost projections, the scheme is now expected to cost £120m, up from an initial forecast of around £100m. Cardiff council is now looking to both the UK and Welsh Governments to commit a further £20m in contingency funding. As things stand, the full £20m contingency is expected to be required. Without additional funding commitments, Cardiff Council will not be able to meet the extra cost itself.

 

[MikePJ]

Cardiff Bay has gained the main part of its staff building. This is a modular building - some cladding and curved glazed ends will be fitted later (EDIT - the planning application shows a building with curved ends, but it may be that this grey box (perhaps plus a bit of cladding) is what we actually get).

The metal fence panels I noticed last week are being installed. Some have appeared on the end of the platform to stop passengers falling off.

I did have a ride along the line to look at the trackwork but couldn’t take a video. But my observation is that the up line trackbed is being prepared for track to be laid next week.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Cardiff Bay has gained the main part of its staff building. This is a modular building - some cladding and curved glazed ends will be fitted later (EDIT - the planning application shows a building with curved ends, but it may be that this grey box (perhaps plus a bit of cladding) is what we actually get).

The metal fence panels I noticed last week are being installed. Some have appeared on the end of the platform to stop passengers falling off.

I did have a ride along the line to look at the trackwork but couldn’t take a video. But my observation is that the up line trackbed is being prepared for track to be laid next week.

That's nothing like the building shown in the original plans, more of a shed. I assume that it's been 'value engineered'!

 

[59CosG95]

That's nothing like the building shown in the original plans, more of a shed. I assume that it's been 'value engineered'!

Very much the same order of staff buildings most new lines get now. Case in point - the Northumberland Line at Ashington. The conductor's facility there wasn't too different to this.

 

[positron]

That's nothing like the building shown in the original plans, more of a shed. I assume that it's been 'value engineered'!

The bay station already has been they got rid of some gantry at the entrance to save money too.