Cardiff Queen Street upgrade

[PHILIPE]

According to leaflets that were being handed to passengers passing through Queen St today, from this Sunday......

Platform 1: Cardiff Bay
Platform 2: Services towards Penarth and Radyr (via the City Line)
Platform 3: Services towards Barry Island, Bridgend (via VOG), and trains terminating at Cardiff Central
Platform 4: Services towards Coryton, Caerphilly, Bargoed, Ystrad Mynach, Rhymney
Platform 5: Services towards Pontypridd, Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil.

Installation of a lift for Plaforms 1 & 2 is 'planned for 2015'.

How exactly are these additional platforms meant to help increase service frequency when only 1 additional Valley lines platform is being built at Cardiff Central? (presumably for Barry, Bridgend, Penarth and Central terminating services)

The platform arrangements have ben mentioned already. Re additional capacity, there are still only 2 tracks between Queen St and Central and across the bridge at the North End.

 

[herschell]

Quite like the look of the new concourse and the frontage, they had the Welsh name on the window but still had to Cardiff Queen Street on the frontage of the station

 

[gareth950]

The platform arrangements have been mentioned already. Re additional capacity, there are still only 2 tracks between Queen St and Central and across the bridge at the North End.

So why build the new extra platforms at Queen St then? Just to be able to overtake broken down trains at Queen St or Central?

 

[Techniquest]

I should hope the OP isn't coming down from Montrose to Cardiff just to see what's going on there now!

Interesting to know that a new round of micro-gricing will be needed on the Valleys next year. I didn't know about Tir-phil getting a second platform, and I'm sure something else was mentioned somewhere in this thread I didn't know about too.

Glad that new platform at Centraal is nearly done it should really help matters even if it only gets used for terminating services for now. I'm not convinced the works at Queen Street will make a lot of difference, apart from separating passengers out which can't be a bad thing as that island platform got very busy when I was last there and that was only at 1612 or so, not quite the evening peak! Mind you, I do remember how crammed it was getting off the 1701 Centraal to Rhymney way back when...

Has the subway now lost its 1980s feel then? Hopefully we'll also get a decent coffee shop at CDQ one day...

 

[PHILIPE]

So why build the new extra platforms at Queen St then? Just to be able to overtake broken down trains at Queen St or Central?

Thinking about it, one often gets delays at the signals approaching Queen St waiting for the platform to be cleared. This should eliminate much of this delay.

 

[CapitalStar378]

According to leaflets that were being handed to passengers passing through Queen St today, from this Sunday......

Platform 1: Cardiff Bay
Platform 2: Services towards Penarth and Radyr (via the City Line)
Platform 3: Services towards Barry Island, Bridgend (via VOG), and trains terminating at Cardiff Central
Platform 4: Services towards Coryton, Caerphilly, Bargoed, Ystrad Mynach, Rhymney
Platform 5: Services towards Pontypridd, Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil.

Installation of a lift for Plaforms 1 & 2 is 'planned for 2015'.

How exactly are these additional platforms meant to help increase service frequency when only 1 additional Valley lines platform is being built at Cardiff Central? (presumably for Barry, Bridgend, Penarth and Central terminating services)

Platform 4 at Central is being connected to the Valleys lines to provide additional space if required.
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So why build the new extra platforms at Queen St then? Just to be able to overtake broken down trains at Queen St or Central?

To allow 16 tph each way, there will be additional services once the project is complete, hence the extra platforms at Pontypridd, Caerphilly & Barry.

 

[herschell]

I should hope the OP isn't coming down from Montrose to Cardiff just to see what's going on there now!

I'm not, I come down for a holiday as I really like it in Cardiff and I stay somewhere I can gett a good view over Queen Street Station.

 

[Techniquest]

I should hope the OP isn't coming down from Montrose to Cardiff just to see what's going on there now!

I'm not, I come down for a holiday as I really like it in Cardiff and I stay somewhere I can gett a good view over Queen Street Station.

Fair games Have a good trip!

 

[herschell]

Fair games Have a good trip!

I did, my holiday was from the 1st-5th December but do plan to come down again as plenty of things to see in both Cardiff and it's railway stations

 

[Techniquest]

Glad you had a good visit, do you mind if I ask what in particular interests you with the rails of Cardiff?

 

[herschell]

I honestly don't know, I just like all things rail, Cardiff Central is one of my favourites just now as have now done the Cardiff-London route along the GWML and Queen Street interests me for the trains to bay.

 

[headshot119]

Official launch of the new platforms 1 and 5 at Cardiff Queen Street is set for this coming Sunday the 14th.

See the attached leaflet from ATW.

 

[krus_aragon]

How exactly are these additional platforms meant to help increase service frequency when only 1 additional Valley lines platform is being built at Cardiff Central? (presumably for Barry, Bridgend, Penarth and Central terminating services)

Granted, as you mentioned, there won't be as many dedicated platforms at Central as at Queen St. However, having the extra platforms so close to Queen St North Junction (lines diverging for Radyr and Heath) means that trains can be regulated better. Rather than hold an ex-Rhymney service outside the station for a late ex-Merthyr on the other line, you can let it in to the platform and then make a decision on which service to send through to Central first, depending on when the Merthyr service gets in.

This can make for a more robust timetable, and allow 16tph to be timetabled reliably. (You might be able to shove them all through just the two platforms, but only when everything's running nicely on time!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Quite like the look of the new concourse and the frontage, they had the Welsh name on the window but still had to Cardiff Queen Street on the frontage of the station

Given that I'm now living at the wrong end of the country, could I ask for some pictures? Pretty please?

I'd like to see what's been done up at Pontypridd too, if anyone nearby has a camera to hand.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Granted, as you mentioned, there won't be as many dedicated platforms at Central as at Queen St. However, having the extra platforms so close to Queen St North Junction (lines diverging for Radyr and Heath) means that trains can be regulated better. Rather than hold an ex-Rhymney service outside the station for a late ex-Merthyr on the other line, you can let it in to the platform and then make a decision on which service to send through to Central first, depending on when the Merthyr service gets in.

This can make for a more robust timetable, and allow 16tph to be timetabled reliably. (You might be able to shove them all through just the two platforms, but only when everything's running nicely on time!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Given that I'm now living at the wrong end of the country, could I ask for some pictures? Pretty please?

I'd like to see what's been done up at Pontypridd too, if anyone nearby has a camera to hand.

Going through Queen St tomorrow providing the storms and failed freight on the Marches don't stop me

 

[Greenback]

having the extra platforms so close to Queen St North Junction (lines diverging for Radyr and Heath) means that trains can be regulated better. Rather than hold an ex-Rhymney service outside the station for a late ex-Merthyr on the other line, you can let it in to the platform and then make a decision on which service to send through to Central first, depending on when the Merthyr service gets in.

Correct. It's all about better regulation and avoiding delays wherever possible.

I'm looking forward to my next Cardiff trip!

 

[anthony263]

Next time I get a day off during a weekday I am getting a valley lines day explorr

 

[Techniquest]

I'm going to pop into Queen Street when I go down for the Ebbw Vale extension, although by then the new bit at Pontypridd will be done I suspect too.

herschell: Fair dos, I used to love Cardiff too but these days I prefer Manchester!

 

[HowardGWR]

Next time I get a day off during a weekday I am getting a valley lines day explorr

Just looked it up. Wow, at £11 looks a bargain. Can one do them all in the time, I wonder? I downloaded the map and it seemed possible although whether desirable is another question.

 

[headshot119]

I know it's possible to do them all in a day, I travelled on 2M00 (05:26 Cardiff Central - Merthy Tydfil & Aberdare), did Merthy Tydfil, Aberdare, Treherbert, Radyr via the city line, round the Vale of Glamorgan, upto Maestag, back down the main to Cardiff, into Barry Island, grangetown, Penarth, Ebbw Vale Parkway, Rhymney, and finished off at Cardiff Bay!

 

[krus_aragon]

Just looked it up. Wow, at £11 looks a bargain. Can one do them all in the time, I wonder? I downloaded the map and it seemed possible although whether desirable is another question.

If you feel that time will be a bit tight, you can catch a bus across the heads of the Valleys to save doubling back: e.g. Merthyr to Rhymney by bus is 30 minutes.

 

[herschell]

awfully quiet with no news considering it's tomorrow the 2 new platforms offically come in to use

 

[aleph_0]

According to leaflets that were being handed to passengers passing through Queen St today, from this Sunday......

Platform 1: Cardiff Bay
Platform 2: Services towards Penarth and Radyr (via the City Line)
Platform 3: Services towards Barry Island, Bridgend (via VOG), and trains terminating at Cardiff Central
Platform 4: Services towards Coryton, Caerphilly, Bargoed, Ystrad Mynach, Rhymney
Platform 5: Services towards Pontypridd, Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil.

I find this a little interesting. Usually, train companies avoid publically defining 'usual' platforms, even when they exist/are followed in normal operation. As far as I understand there are only two tracks two towards Central (due to Newport Road bridge), and to the junction to the north of the station, so there's no technical reason to have 'assigned' platforms.

I can imagine that in the case of even slight disruption variations would be preferable - e.g. by platform-ing two consecutive Pontypridd-bound services, rather than having them queue up, or possibly allowing an overtake/one to run fast.

I guess the priority here is to retrain commuters to use the 'correct' platforms, rather than automatically go for platform 2/3. Maybe it is felt that it's important in terms of passenger flow to get people onto platforms, rather than lingering elsewhere, and so more of an effort will be made to stick to 'usual' platforms. At least during busy times - I can imagine on Sundays/nights it might make sense to send all northbound trains through platform 2, so as to minimise point operations/staff moving about?

 

[PHILIPE]

Designated platforms will prevent last minute stampedes that could happen if Platform changes made.

 

[DaveHarries]

I'm going to pop into Queen Street when I go down for the Ebbw Vale extension, although by then the new bit at Pontypridd will be done I suspect too.

herschell: Fair dos, I used to love Cardiff too but these days I prefer Manchester!

What news on the Ebbw Vale extension? I haven't heard anything on this for a while so what is the current progress with it?

Dave

 

[anthony263]

Lot of work going on behind the scenes last I heard it was supposed to be opened this spring.

I did read somewhere that work was underway to install lifts at the station

 

[Techniquest]

What news on the Ebbw Vale extension? I haven't heard anything on this for a while so what is the current progress with it?

Dave

I'm pretty sure it was mentioned earlier in this thread, that it was due to open in 2015. I could be mistaken mind, but I'll be happy to see it finally happen! After all, the rest of the line re-opened over 6 and a half years ago, and we're still waiting nearly 6 years later for the "due in 2009" Newport services!

Good gosh I've just realised how long ago that was, some lovely memories of that time period come to mind. I need to find my 2008 moves book and melt into a pile of nostalgia, it was a good year after all!

 

[rf_ioliver]

I'm pretty sure it was mentioned earlier in this thread, that it was due to open in 2015. I could be mistaken mind, but I'll be happy to see it finally happen! After all, the rest of the line re-opened over 6 and a half years ago, and we're still waiting nearly 6 years later for the "due in 2009" Newport services!!

I just noticed on the latest satellite imagery from Here that the track bed, if not the tracks seems to be complete. Images are dated summer 2014

https://www.here.com/gbr/ebbw-vale/...83,-3.20153,16,satellite&msg=Steel Works Road

t.

Ian