South Wales 'Metro' updates

[Avowedsevern]

I thought people may appreciate a few shots of the new depot at taffs well and how it's looking now

Judging by the renders of how it’s supposed to look, it seems they’ve still got a fair ways to go?

 

[bradleyd]

Judging by the renders of how it’s supposed to look, it seems they’ve still got a fair ways to go?

I haven't actually seen the renders

 

[Avowedsevern]

I haven't actually seen the renders

I don’t want to link WalesOnline because they’re trash, but you can see the renders also in the promo vid TFW released a few years ago:

 

[CardiffKid]

I don’t want to link WalesOnline because they’re trash,

Thank you and well said

 

[Bob Price]

Passing Penarth yesterday some clearance for the unloading loop has taken place. I guess this is a Network Rail project seeing as the DfT hasn't handed this bit over. This is off the bridge on the other side of Penarth station

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Some news.

£50 million investment for Cardiff Crossrail

Case study

£50 million investment for Cardiff Crossrail (Levelling Up Fund 2)

£50 million from the Levelling Up Fund has been provisionally allocated to Cardiff Council, in partnership with Transport for Wales, to improve public transport in the city. The funding will improve connectivity to and from the Cardiff Bay area.

From:

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Published

1 November 2023

Cardiff Crossrail improvements

The funding will support the first phase of Cardiff Crossrail - which will run from Cardiff Central to Cardiff Bay Train Station.

Projects planned for funding as part of phase 1 include:

• a new tramline to connect Cardiff Central to the Cardiff Bay Line
• a new platform at Cardiff Central Station
• new rolling stock
• a new platform at Cardiff Bay Station
• public realm improvements between Cardiff Central and Cardiff Bay

Benefits to the local area

These projects will bring many benefits such as:

• a more sustainable public transport network for Cardiff
• additional employment opportunities
• enhanced connectivity to the city centre
• the creation of a vibrant place to live, work, invest and visit

The Cardiff Crossrail programme forms part of the wider South Wales Metro Project

Find out more about Levelling Up

Published 1 November 2023

 

[Peter Sarf]

Some news.

£50 million investment for Cardiff Crossrail

Good news but - Crossrail / tramline would anyone refer to a short tramline as Crossrail ?.

 

[John R]

So yet another announcement of the £50m, and it’s still only “provisionally” allocated, so there’ll be another opportunity to announce it in due course.

Levelling Up Fund’s £50m kickstarts first phase of Cardiff Crossrail​

The first phase of Cardiff Crossrail is set to go ahead following an award of £50 million to Cardiff Council from the government's Levelling Up Fund and match funding of a further £50m from the Welsh Government.

Levelling Up Fund's £50m kickstarts first phase of Cardiff Crossrail

The first phase of Cardiff Crossrail is set to go ahead following an award to Cardiff Council of £50 million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

www.railadvent.co.uk

 

[Envoy]

Good news but - Crossrail / tramline would anyone refer to a short tramline as Crossrail ?.

It does say “first phase of Cardiff Crossrail”. It is not just about the short link between Cardiff Central and the Bay line but what is hoped will be a cross city line from Cregiau in the NW through to Central and then out to the east via the Bay & Splott to at least Newport Road.

 

[CardiffKid]

Some news.

£50 million investment for Cardiff Crossrail

That was announced months ago

Levelling Up Fund's £50m kickstarts first phase of Cardiff Crossrail

The first phase of Cardiff Crossrail is set to go ahead following an award to Cardiff Council of £50 million from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

www.railadvent.co.uk

 

[Baxenden Bank]

So yet another announcement of the £50m, and it’s still only “provisionally” allocated, so there’ll be another opportunity to announce it in due course.

That was announced months ago

After posting, I did note the line at the top of the press release 'case study', which made me wonder whether it was a re-announcement. Strange that it doesn't seem to link to a case study report or similar. I don't follow the overall Metro project that closely, only for the new stations element. I was actually searching for something official about Beeston & Tarporley station at the time!

 

[CapitalStar378]

Well £50m will buy a few extra trains where’s the rest coming from ?

When this was first announced it was with a matching amount from the Welsh Government, so £100m in total. As long as they don't get any HS2 contractors involved, that should go a good way towards the Central to Bay branch tram line.

 

[matt]

Just a reminder that this thread is only for construction updates for the South Wales Metro project, thanks

 

[Signal_Box]

Cardiff Bay baby block until 20/11 for upgrade works including OHL work.

 

[Markdvdman]

Well a guy told me this AM the reason why Quakers Yard is till not open. Until yesterday, it was due to reopen today but has today changed to 30/11/23. It is two things (allegedly). Platform Height is wrong, so either the paltform has to be amended or the track lowered/raised. Also, the lights shine into peoples bedrooms apparently, and did not get permission for it.

Far fetched? I get a feeling the 2nd one *MAYBE* but the first I can believe - shocking waste of money IF true - can anybody verify the authenticity of this?

 

[Dai Corner]

Well a guy told me this AM the reason why Quakers Yard is till not open. Until yesterday, it was due to reopen today but has today changed to 30/11/23. It is two things (allegedly). Platform Height is wrong, so either the paltform has to be amended or the track lowered/raised. Also, the lights shine into peoples bedrooms apparently, and did not get permission for it.

Far fetched? I get a feeling the 2nd one *MAYBE* but the first I can believe - shocking waste of money IF true - can anybody verify the authenticity of this?

The details of the planning application to Merthyr Tydfil Council are in the following link. Unfortunately the site isn't working for me at the moment so I can't give a quote but from memory there are objections from local residents.

I understand that the railways do not normally need to get permission for developments on their own land.

P/23/0125 | Retrospective permission for the construction of a new footbridge, works to demolish, alter and extend existing platform north of the railway line and construction of a new platform south of the railway line with associat

publicaccess.merthyr.gov.uk

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

The details of the planning application to Merthyr Tydfil Council are in the following link. Unfortunately the site isn't working for me at the moment so I can't give a quote but from memory there are objections from local residents.

I understand that the railways do not normally need to get permission for developments on their own land.

P/23/0125 | Retrospective permission for the construction of a new footbridge, works to demolish, alter and extend existing platform north of the railway line and construction of a new platform south of the railway line with associat

publicaccess.merthyr.gov.uk

As I understand it the works would heve been allowed under "permitted development" rules but that when planning officers turned up they found that TfW had already commenced work - meaning that retrospective planning permission is required.

It'a a bit like what happened to that bridge in Cumbria that was infilled by Highways England.

 

[AdamWW]

As I understand it the works would heve been allowed under "permitted development" rules but that when planning officers turned up they found that TfW had already commenced work - meaning that retrospective planning permission is required.

It'a a bit like what happened to that bridge in Cumbria that was infilled by Highways England.

What should they have done before commencing work?

I thought the point of permitted development was that it didn't need any approval beforehand.

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

What should they have done before commencing work?

I thought the point of permitted development was that it didn't need any approval beforehand.

"A council spokesperson told Nation.Cymru that TfW had not submitted ‘prior notification’ in advance of any works and as a result the council has had to “deal with the work retrospectively”.


The spokesperson added: “If they had followed procedure and submitted these details prior to the start of the work, they would not be in this position. In August 2022, Merthyr Tydfil Council received the prior notification and the council’s case officer visited the site.


“It was immediately apparent that works were already underway and as such the case officer contacted the agent (Axis – acting for Amey/TfW) to advise them that, as they had started works, they could not benefit from the prior notification procedure and would need to apply for planning permission.”

https://nation.cymru/news/tfw-slammed-over-station-revamp-planning-blunders/

 

[5021]

Following the current 16 day blockade, from start of service on Mon 20 Nov the Weekly Operating Notice (WON) warns Cardiff Bay branch drivers to be aware of the construction of a new platform at Butetown, adjacent to the single [former Down] line on the down side between 0m 32ch and 0m 38ch. This is interesting as the new edition of TRACKmaps 3 has 0m 31ch as the mileage of the new stop; also (understandably) there is no mention as to whether the Up platform is being constructed at the same time – presumably the Up line still awaits reinstatement! Any reports of what's actually been constructed when the line reopens would be very welcome! Thanks.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Cardiff Bay baby block until 20/11 for upgrade works including OHL work.

I go to work on this line and to my disgust, the rail replacement services are not only very far from the station and not well advertised (and way less frequent than the train), but they’re only running on weekdays! Why on earth is there no service on weekends?

Anyway, as you can see from these photos, Butetown station’s platforms are taking shape.

 

[CardiffKid]

I go to work on this line and to my disgust, the rail replacement services are not only very far from the station and not well advertised (and way less frequent than the train), but they’re only running on weekdays! Why on earth is there no service on weekends?

In addition to the rail replacement service there is also a ticket acceptance with Cardiff Bus.

 

[positron]

Yeah the replacement is Cardiff bus number 6. The extra replacement busses are to supplement the 6 where it lacks (such as early morning and evening services)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Nov 2023 ==

Glad to some solid progress on the bay line at least. Wonder if the bay station platform is any further along.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

In addition to the rail replacement service there is also a ticket acceptance with Cardiff Bus.

Yeah the replacement is Cardiff bus number 6. The extra replacement busses are to supplement the 6 where it lacks (such as early morning and evening services)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Nov 2023 ==

Glad to some solid progress on the bay line at least. Wonder if the bay station platform is any further along.

After waiting for this bus, I was told firmly by the driver that Cardiff Bus are not carrying customers and that station staff were mistaken

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Nov 2023 ==

Yeah the replacement is Cardiff bus number 6. The extra replacement busses are to supplement the 6 where it lacks (such as early morning and evening services)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Nov 2023 ==

Glad to some solid progress on the bay line at least. Wonder if the bay station platform is any further along.

I have a photo of that too! An almost completed island platform and a third track (out of sight)

 

[Anonymous10]

After waiting for this bus, I was told firmly by the driver that Cardiff Bus are not carrying customers and that station staff were mistaken

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Nov 2023 ==


I have a photo of that too! An almost completed island platform and a third track (out of sight)

Considering the tfw website also states ticket acceptance with cardiff bus it's either someone organising tfw rail replacement is mistaken or the bus driver.

 

[CardiffKid]

After waiting for this bus, I was told firmly by the driver…

You do seem to be told firmly/strongly quite a bit by transport workers.

Considering the tfw website also states ticket acceptance with cardiff bus it's either someone organising tfw rail replacement is mistaken or the bus driver.

I think the bus driver was wrong, it’s such a simple route and as been done before. In fact I’m amazed there is a dedicated Queen Street to Cardiff Bay rail replacement bus rather than telling passengers to go to Central and change.

 

[AdamWW]

After waiting for this bus, I was told firmly by the driver that Cardiff Bus are not carrying customers and that station staff were mistaken

There seems to be a general disconnect at the moment where TfW say they have arranged acceptance but either do not actually do so or the message is lost somewhere in Cardiff Bus.
(The latter seems unlikely given how small a company it is).

Showing the information on the TfW web site to the driver often helps. I suspect it wouldn't with this driver though.

It seems a little odd that they say they have arranged only for acceptance on the number 6 given that it is now not very frequent and supplemented by the number 8.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Nov 2023 ==

I think the bus driver was wrong, it’s such a simple route and as been done before. In fact I’m amazed there is a dedicated Queen Street to Cardiff Bay rail replacement bus rather than telling passengers to go to Central and change.

I don't.

On a previous occasion when a bus driver refused to accept train tickets, Cardiff Bus confirmed that they had not in fact been asked to accept train tickets.

 

[Geeves]

Great news on the overheads progressing. A poster on here posted up a brilliant map showing all the lines that are wired including the sections with intermittent wiring. I don't suppose anyone has it and could post it again?

Thankyou in advance!

 

[Richard Scott]

After waiting for this bus, I was told firmly by the driver that Cardiff Bus are not carrying customers and that station staff were mistaken

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Nov 2023 ==


I have a photo of that too! An almost completed island platform and a third track (out of sight)

Was I interpreting your earlier post correctly that the line to the bay is closed until 20th? Seems an awful lot of work to do if it's to open in any operational fashion then or have I got wrong end of the stick?

 

[5021]

Was I interpreting your earlier post correctly that the line to the bay is closed until 20th? Seems an awful lot of work to do if it's to open in any operational fashion then or have I got wrong end of the stick?

According to the Operating Notice it will still be operating as a single line from the 20th so quite how much will and won't be achieved - or is intended to be - during the blockade remains to be seen. Not completion of track laying seems a safe bet!