South Wales Metro Service Pattern

[Smwrff]

This was recently posted in Twitter showing the planned service patterns for South Wales Metro to be introduced progressively from mid 2024. It is is mostly (90% ?) factual/confirmed with the speculative bits shown dotted. - yes - I wish he wouldnt use the outdated Valley Lines logo either...

 

[geoffk]

It's not clear from the map (and I don't live in or near Cardiff) but are the three lines in different shades of blue the tram-train routes? Wouldn't it make more sense to run tram-trains Coryton to Cardiff Bay and beyond, with the possible north-west extension to an M4 Park & Ride? The Coryton branch has closely spaced stations so is ideal for tram operation. (A passing loop, required for a 15 minutes interval service has I understand, been dropped). A tram-train all the way from Aberdare, Treherbert and Merthyr, with no toilets and a ride probably inferior to a heavy-rail emu, doesn't sound an attractive proposition.

I understand that trams cannot run off 25kV AC wires on-street, hence the need for batteries, also that tram-trains would not be allowed through Cardiff Central so Penarth has to be heavy rail - is that correct?

 

[anthony263]

It's not clear from the map (and I don't live in or near Cardiff) but are the three lines in different shades of blue the tram-train routes? Wouldn't it make more sense to run tram-trains Coryton to Cardiff Bay and beyond, with the possible north-west extension to an M4 Park & Ride? The Coryton branch has closely spaced stations so is ideal for tram operation. (A passing loop, required for a 15 minutes interval service has I understand, been dropped). A tram-train all the way from Aberdare, Treherbert and Merthyr, with no toilets and a ride probably inferior to a heavy-rail emu, doesn't sound an attractive proposition.

I understand that trams cannot run off 25kV AC wires on-street, hence the need for batteries, also that tram-trains would not be allowed through Cardiff Central so Penarth has to be heavy rail - is that correct?

Some of the aberdare abd merthyr tram-trains are looping clockwise via the city line so are perfectly fine to run on street

 

[Jellyfish261]

With the additional services going via the City Line this week, is there any reason why on a normal day this route couldn't be uplifted to a 15min frequency rather than the current 30? (Even if just a Cardiff - Radyr and return, given the tph to Ponty is already good)

Am sure I heard somewhere it's something to do with Cardiff West Junction - but if can be done this week, why not all the time? Would be transformative in terms of 'turn up and go' metro-style services. Is it simply because they are not stopping?

*Selfishly, as a cross-Cardiff commuter, I have to say the new(ish) circular services are very welcome - every 15mins would be even better!

 

[AdamWW]

With the additional services going via the City Line this week, is there any reason why on a normal day this route couldn't be uplifted to a 15min frequency rather than the current 30? (Even if just a Cardiff - Radyr and return, given the tph to Ponty is already good)

Am sure I heard somewhere it's something to do with Cardiff West Junction - but if can be done this week, why not all the time? Would be transformative in terms of 'turn up and go' metro-style services. Is it simply because they are not stopping?

*Selfishly, as a cross-Cardiff commuter, I have to say the new(ish) circular services are very welcome - every 15mins would be even better!

Presumably it works because there is a reduced service to Penarth and Barry at the moment.

 

[John R]

Presumably it works because there is a reduced service to Penarth and Barry at the moment.

Indeed, that’s probably one of the reasons for the reduced services on those lines, to enable capacity for the lines up to Pontypridd to be maintained.

 

[AdamWW]

Indeed, that’s probably one of the reasons for the reduced services on those lines, to enable capacity for the lines up to Pontypridd to be maintained.

I would imagine that, and also the limited capacity for turning trains back at Central.