South Wales 'Metro' updates

[J663738]

Metro progress.

3 carriage 756 test train at Penarth a few minutes ago!

 

[Cardiff4]

Trials were due to happen today on the Coryton, Penarth and Caerphilly sections. 756001 ran from Queen St to Penarth and up to Caerphilly. It then returned Canton Depot. The runs to Coryton were cancelled, apparently due to the OHLE tripping out.

 

[positron]

Trials were due to happen today on the Coryton, Penarth and Caerphilly sections. 756001 ran from Queen St to Penarth and up to Caerphilly. It then returned Canton Depot. The runs to Coryton were cancelled, apparently due to the OHLE tripping out.

That's not great... Tracks with what others have said regarding the OLE potentially being off on Coryton line ATM.

At least they managed to get them running from Caerphilly to Penarth (though of course with 231s having previously done that it's not super surprising)

 

[Ib5]

Trials were due to happen today on the Coryton, Penarth and Caerphilly sections. 756001 ran from Queen St to Penarth and up to Caerphilly. It then returned Canton Depot. The runs to Coryton were cancelled, apparently due to the OHLE tripping out.

2nd attempt….fingers crossed.

 

[MikePJ]

Just a quick Butetown update - the second platform works are now visibly progressing after a lot of invisible groundwork. In particular, the rebar is in place for the foundations of the new lift tower and there's a new concrete retaining wall being cast - a couple of sections have already been cast and released from the shuttering and there was a concrete pump crane there this morning filling the next section.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jul 2025 ==

Butetown progress pictures:

 

[Western 52]

Merthyr and Aberdare services cancelled today due to a track defect between Pontypridd and Abercynon. Anyone know what the issue is?

 

[chrisjo]

Merthyr and Aberdare services cancelled today due to a track defect between Pontypridd and Abercynon. Anyone know what the issue is?

Too hot I expect!

 

[Western 52]

Too hot I expect!

I had wondered if it was heat related.

 

[56xx]

There has been a 30 mph speed restriction northbound about half a mile north of Pontypridd for months now. Maybe somewhere in that area.

 

[Bob Price]

Electrification at Pengam. Masts are up north of Hengoed. Not sure what they will do with the old bridge that carries the water pipe

 

[J663738]

Taking about speed restrictions, does anyone know if the Barry Island 5mph viaduct restriction will ever be lifted? must have been in place for nearly 10 years now.
Are they waiting until after the metro work finishes to find the money to close it for a year(s) so they can completely rebuild the rusting structure?
Has anyone seen just how bad it is underneath?

 

[Western 52]

That viaduct was very slow years ago, about 10mph I think back in the 1970s. Loco hauled excursions were using it then.

 

[J663738]

Anyone know what the track defect is at Abercynon blocking all traffic north of Pontypridd. Looking at RTTs its been out since 19:30 yesterday. Mustn't be a simple fix, ground subsidence or similar??
Not good, since TfW issued a press release saying how well they did with the Oasis concerts last week.

Tonight is the Stereophonics, so a lot of people will disrupted by the failure.

 

[Markdvdman]

It must be buckled rails. I suspect the heat is causing issues. However, they should have been on this since 5am to make it easier to work.

 

[J663738]

If its a track brake/buckling caused by high temps can they be repaired when its so hot? or do they have to wait until it cools down to carry out full repairs to stop contractions etc causing more issues 'down the line'

 

[AdamWW]

Anyone know what the track defect is at Abercynon blocking all traffic north of Pontypridd. Looking at RTTs its been out since 19:30 yesterday. Mustn't be a simple fix, ground subsidence or similar??
Not good, since TfW issued a press release saying how well they did with the Oasis concerts last week.

And does anyone know whether this is why the Bay line has shut down or if there's another problem?

Journeycheck says that tha fault at Abercynon is resulting in the Bay service being cut to half hourly, which I don't understand either. If they can't run as far as Ponty couldn't they just shuttle up and down to platform 1 at Queen Street 4 times an hour?

 

[MikePJ]

One quick update that I saw today: a letter to Cardiff North MP Anna McMorrin from Ken Skates says that Coryton will have a Sunday service from the December timetable change. https://www.annamcmorrin.org/news/sunday-service-on-the-coryton-line

Today I received a letter from Ken Skates MS, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport in the Welsh Government.

In the letter, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed Transport for Wales’ plans to introduce a Sunday service on the Coryton Line this year.

“TfW are planning to operate Sunday services on the Coryton Line from the December timetable change.” — Ken Skates MS.

This is a major victory for our Next Stop campaign. Finally, passengers will have a seven-day rail service they can depend on.

 

[AdamWW]

One quick update that I saw today: a letter to Cardiff North MP Anna McMorrin from Ken Skates says that Coryton will have a Sunday service from the December timetable change. https://www.annamcmorrin.org/news/sunday-service-on-the-coryton-line

I think most people who actually use the Coryton Line might not agree with the "depend on" part of that.

 

[J663738]

I will be pushing for these upgrades at Cardiff West Junction so we can turn another #NextStop campaign aim into a reality – "four trains an hour on the Coryton Line."

they'll be lucky!, what has Cardiff west junction got to do with the Coryton line??

back to taday's disruption....

TfW have issued a 'Do not Travel' advice for customers from Aberdare and Merthyr, because there are no rail replacement buses available and they can't guarantee there will be space on the Stagecoach buses!

Unbelievable are TfW twinned with that travel agent in the Trueman show?

They seem to be very poor in dealing with both the media and the public when things go wrong. They seem to only communicate well on good news stories.
I would get some photos out of severely buckled rails and someone frying an egg on the track. Plus some details of how they are doing their best!

 

[MikePJ]

McMorrin is clearly making Coryton line performance a key promise, so she will presumably be having sharp words with TfW if it doesn't improve. Perhaps this also explains why Cardiff West Junction money suddenly appeared in the spending reivew - I think she's politically well-connected.

 

[AdamWW]

They seem to be very poor in dealing with both the media and the public when things go wrong. They seem to only communicate well on good news stories.

Absolutely.

When they shut the Coryton Line for 2 weeks at under a week's notice rather than expaining the reason let alone apologising they put out a press release saying how wonderful it was they were doing the work. No mention of the lack of notice.

I will be pushing for these upgrades at Cardiff West Junction so we can turn another #NextStop campaign aim into a reality – "four trains an hour on the Coryton Line."

they'll be lucky!, what has Cardiff west junction got to do with the Coryton line??

I think the original plan was for 2 trains per hour to Penarth as at present, and the other 2 trains round the City line to Radyr.

Perhaps because without this there would be nowhere for an extra 2 trains per hour to go.

 

[MikePJ]

they'll be lucky!, what has Cardiff west junction got to do with the Coryton line??

The Coryton line service used to be Coryton-City Line-Radyr. Both the City Line and the Coryton line would benefit from doubling to 4tph - this needs an upgrade to Cardiff West Junction (for the City line's access to Cardiff Central) and a loop on the Coryton line. I think it's highly likely that both will happen and the Coryton service will then be 2tph to Penarth and 2tph to Radyr.

 

[AdamWW]

McMorrin is clearly making Coryton line performance a key promise, so she will presumably be having sharp words with TfW if it doesn't improve. Perhaps this also explains why Cardiff West Junction money suddenly appeared in the spending reivew - I think she's politically well-connected.

I wonder if TfW have given her an explanation for what on the face it looks like constant bad decision making, e.g. turning a 6 minute late train round at Ty Glas when the previous two were cancelled, and when it could have skipped stops to Coryton and been back on time. They won't do that for me!

 

[MikePJ]

I wonder if TfW have given her an explanation for what on the face it looks like constant bad decision making, e.g. turning a 6 minute late train round at Ty Glas when the previous two were cancelled, and when it could have skipped stops to Coryton and been back on time. They won't do that for me!

If you're in her constituency, why not write to her and ask?

My impression of the TfW media operation is that it's very understaffed - they can just about cope with the routine announcmenets but struggle to handle emergencies.

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

My impression of the TfW media operation is that it's very understaffed - they can just about cope with the routine announcmenets but struggle to handle emergencies.

You're probably right - especially at weekends. It's almost always the case that public sector bodies scrimp on comms as they're terrified of "public money down the drain on PR" style headlines. Communicating with your customers is a core function though, so they should just bite the bullet.

 

[Adlee Turner]

And does anyone know whether this is why the Bay line has shut down or if there's another problem?

Journeycheck says that tha fault at Abercynon is resulting in the Bay service being cut to half hourly, which I don't understand either. If they can't run as far as Ponty couldn't they just shuttle up and down to platform 1 at Queen Street 4 times an hour?

The Pontypridd - Cardiff Bay services were cut back to just between the Bay and Queen Street to ease congestion going up Pontypridd

 

[J663738]

• Barry - Bridgend Check before travel
• Cardiff - Barry Island Minor delays
• Cardiff - Ebbw Vale Good service
• Cardiff - Maesteg Good service
• Cardiff - Penarth Good service
• Cardiff - Pontypridd Major delays
• Cardiff - Rhymney Major delays
• Cardiff Bay Major delays
• Cardiff Central - Coryton Don't travel
• Pontypridd - Aberdare Don't travel
• Pontypridd - Merthyr Tydfil Don't travel
• Pontypridd - Treherbert Major delays

Today's TfW Metro status, I'm glad they are reminding the good folk on the Coryton line not use the train today, as some may have forgotten its a Sunday!

Seriously, they don't seem to be very forthcoming about the issue at Abercynon, all trains again cancelled north of there for the rest of the day.

 

[Cardiff123]

Taking about speed restrictions, does anyone know if the Barry Island 5mph viaduct restriction will ever be lifted? must have been in place for nearly 10 years now.
Are they waiting until after the metro work finishes to find the money to close it for a year(s) so they can completely rebuild the rusting structure?
Has anyone seen just how bad it is underneath?

Barry Island Viaduct is managed and owned by Network Rail, so any funding for it is completely separate to TfW and the CVL/Metro. NR could close the Barry Island branch next week to undertake any repairs / upgrades if it has the money, which I suspect it hasn't got.

 

[AdamWW]

The Pontypridd - Cardiff Bay services were cut back to just between the Bay and Queen Street to ease congestion going up Pontypridd

Yes that's fine but what I don't understand is why a captive train couldn't do the timetabled 4 tph. (They used to manage 5!)

Or why in fact it looks as if the Bay line just shut down completely instead.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jul 2025 ==

Today's TfW Metro status, I'm glad they are reminding the good folk on the Coryton line not use the train today, as some may have forgotten its a Sunday!

Also curious given that they appear to have sorted out the points because a test train ran today.

In any case I don't see how "Don't travel" can ever be acceptable for the Coryton line unless something has happened that's so severe that Cardiff Bus have also shut down, or if they have refused to agree ticket acceptance.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Yes that's fine but what I don't understand is why a captive train couldn't do the timetabled 4 tph. (They used to manage 5!)

Or why in fact it looks as if the Bay line just shut down completely instead.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jul 2025 ==



Also curious given that they appear to have sorted out the points because a test train ran today.

In any case I don't see how "Don't travel" can ever be acceptable for the Coryton line unless something has happened that's so severe that Cardiff Bus have also shut down, or if they have refused to agree ticket acceptance.

Unfortunately I'm coming to the conclusion that Amey are not capable of the proper running of the Valleys. It all seems very chaotic at times, and that includes their terrible comms team. It's certainly not a great advert for nationalised railways. I think a change of leadership may be helpful.