South Wales 'Metro' updates

[Bob Price]

From my travels today (passing by not stopping). Wires are up right through past Pengam. Masts can be seen at Tir Pil station and then looking down on the lines south of Pontlotyn. Serious progress with two weeks of this blockade left.

 

[tigermonstera]

TfW have said they will be carrying out structural renovation works to part of Waun-gron Park station throughout the rest of August:

As part of our work to upgrade your rail network, we’ll be carrying out extensive renovation work to platform 2 at Waun-Gron station. Our teams have identified that the platform structure is in a poor condition, so we’ll be carrying out essential strengthening works.

(Source)

 

[Carlisle]

Yes. I timed dwell times on a 756 today, on a train that wasn't all that busy.

It varied between 45 and 59 seconds from wheel stop to wheel start.

Even with the guard continuing to release doors it would speed things up a bit if the trains could be modified so that if a passenger presses the open button before the doors are released the ramp extends.

Or just extend them all when the guard opens a local door.

They seem very protective over the door ramp motors, though they're happy to have the doors themselves constantly shutting themselves and being opened again.

It was said on this forum a little while back the 756s & 398s method of door operation was intended to be similar to the class 777s way of working (driver release & close when guard gives the signal) Has that idea been abandoned?

 

[Cardiff4]

Still no indication of any work taking place on the foot crossing and platform extension at Ty Glas station.

It had been suggested by local politicians that the foot crossing would reopen in time for the new school year in September...that seems very unlikely!

 

[MrCheeseGrater]

Still no indication of any work taking place on the foot crossing and platform extension at Ty Glas station.

It had been suggested by local politicians that the foot crossing would reopen in time for the new school year in September...that seems very unlikely!

That's pathetic. TfW have closed a station for a month without doing any of the planned engineering work, causing completely unnecessary inconvenience, for no reason whatsoever! I'd be shocked but we know who we're dealing with.

 

[CapitalStar378]

That's pathetic. TfW have closed a station for a month without doing any of the planned engineering work, causing completely unnecessary inconvenience, for no reason whatsoever! I'd be shocked but we know who we're dealing with.

This is peak TfW incompetence, why close a station and do nothing? Do they have planners in their office?

 

[John R]

This is peak TfW incompetence, why close a station and do nothing? Do they have planners in their office?

Wasn't the timing of the closure to do with the introduction of 756s (of which two diagrams are working on the branch today)?

 

[Cardiff123]

This is peak TfW incompetence, why close a station and do nothing? Do they have planners in their office?

Don't forget it's Amey Infrastructure Wales (AIW) that manages and is upgrading the Core Valley Lines, on behalf of TfW.

Maybe AIW are not yet ready to carry out the necessary works to Ty Glas, so the options were either delay the introduction of the 756s and keep Ty Glas open, or close Ty Glas earlier to allow the 756s to enter passenger service in July.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Don't forget it's Amey Infrastructure Wales (AIW) that manages and is upgrading the Core Valley Lines, on behalf of TfW.

Maybe AIW are not yet ready to carry out the necessary works to Ty Glas, so the options were either delay the introduction of the 756s and keep Ty Glas open, or close Ty Glas earlier to allow the 756s to enter passenger service in July.

The 756s have SDO do they not?

 

[J663738]

Suspect it was safety concerns. They needed to close the foot crossing, due to the 756's being much quieter, than the older diesel trains.
Therefore, the station needed to close as well, to prevent people from being tempted to use the now closed foot crossing.

 

[Tetragon213]

Suspect it was safety concerns. They needed to close the foot crossing, due to the 756's being much quieter, than the older diesel trains.
Therefore, the station needed to close as well, to prevent people from being tempted to use the now closed foot crossing.

I can definitely attest to the new trains being very quiet indeed.

A few months back, I remember giving myself a scare near Taff's Well on my way to a meeting at Delyn Office. Looked left, saw a Sprinter in the distance, and it took up all my attention. In the less-than-1.5-seconds that I was weighing up whether I could make it across in time, I heard one hell of a "two-tone" from behind me; an Up service made up of a 756 leaving Taff's Well had just reached the Whistle Board. Thankfully I'd kept myself behind the fence, but it was one heck of a wake-up call. I hadn't even heard the damn thing until it reached the W-board just past Taff's Well.

God I hope my kids are nothing like me!

 

[CapitalStar378]

It doesn't really explain why they've closed the station for works that they're not doing. The planning application went in for the platform extension in 2022, surely enough time to have scheduled works in tandem with the station closure.

 

[J663738]

I totally agree, it should have been co timed. But I suspect TfW are in a bit of financial mess, judging by the time slippage on various projects. If they were fined for every day a station was closed, it might concentrate their minds and work schedules.

 

[John R]

I totally agree, it should have been co timed. But I suspect TfW are in a bit of financial mess, judging by the time slippage on various projects. If they were fined for every day a station was closed, it might concentrate their minds and work schedules.

But as the Welsh Govt funds TfW, that would be pointless and thus no incentive to change behaviour.

 

[J663738]

But as the Welsh Govt funds TfW, that would be pointless and thus no incentive to change behaviour.

Yes, it does need a third party regulator, as the WG are ultimately both the regulator and the operator of TfW.
Maybe we need TOC, delay repay scheme, where fines go to transport charity

 

[Dai Corner]

Yes, it does need a third party regulator, as the WG are ultimately both the regulator and the operator of TfW.
Maybe we need TOC, delay repay scheme, where fines go to transport charity

I've claimed delay repay and donated the money to charity.

There does seem to be a disconnect between the public sector operator and private sector infrastructure manager.

 

[5021]

The 756s have SDO do they not?

All of TfW's new rolling stock including the 756s certainly do have SDO according to a document attached on here some time ago

 

[J663738]

Seems TfW are desperate to get more people using the new PAYG system on the South Wales Metro.

"From 19 to 28 August 2025, all single rail journeys made using contactless pay as you go (PAYG) will cost just £1 across all pay as you go enabled stations South East Wales pay as you go network. A full map of our pay as you go network is available here."

When I present my credit card, the conductor usually think I want to buy a ticket, then he has to find and switch on the device which checks the PAYG cards.
The vast majority still use electronic tickets, then paper tickets, finally contactless trails in 3rd place.

But £1 single, is still very good value, so I must make a few trips!

 

[chrisjo]

But £1 single, is still very good value, so I must make a few trips!

There's another thread about this.

TfW makes all single-train journeys in South East Wales £1 on PAYG for 10 days

"From 19 to 28 August 2025, all single rail journeys made using contactless pay as you go (PAYG) will cost just £1 across all pay as you go enabled stations South East Wales pay as you go network." TfW FAQ page I think that this is a great promotion, and may get people on trains who would...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[geoffk]

It doesn't really explain why they've closed the station for works that they're not doing. The planning application went in for the platform extension in 2022, surely enough time to have scheduled works in tandem with the station closure.

If the Coryton branch had been converted to a tramway, much of this work could have been avoided. IMO this was the most sensible option for the branch, with its closely-spaced stations. Then the tram-trains could run to Cardiff Docks.

 

[J663738]

Yes, I know, but being on here,

If the Coryton branch had been converted to a tramway, much of this work could have been avoided. IMO this was the most sensible option for the branch, with its closely-spaced stations. Then the tram-trains could run to Cardiff Docks.

Wasn't this the the original plan many years ago, for the Penarth branch line?
To use the track bed and then go onto the road to extend the line south.
There was even an option somewhere of selling off the entire track bed and running trams on the road from either Cogan or Grangetown. It was ditched thankfully as the roads being too narrow to allow sensible rush hours speeds.

 

[chargesmith]

It doesn't really explain why they've closed the station for works that they're not doing. The planning application went in for the platform extension in 2022, surely enough time to have scheduled works in tandem with the station closure.

It seems they are doing works there, went past today and there's two JCBs working on the pathway into the station from the North side.

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

Yes, it does need a third party regulator, as the WG are ultimately both the regulator and the operator of TfW.
Maybe we need TOC, delay repay scheme, where fines go to transport charity

Jesus wept! It's a nationised railway, the standard model around the world - because it mainly works! The last thing we need is another wa*k-fest about divided railways and third party regulators!

 

[LlanishenBull]

Suspect it was safety concerns. They needed to close the foot crossing, due to the 756's being much quieter, than the older diesel trains.
Therefore, the station needed to close as well, to prevent people from being tempted to use the now closed foot crossing.

Have they closed the crossing between Rhiwbina and Whitchurch?

Not heard anything, so I assume not.

 

[Cardiff4]

Have they closed the crossing between Rhiwbina and Whitchurch?

Not heard anything, so I assume not.

I believe that crossing is still open.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2025 ==

A JCB was working on the path on the North side of Ty Glas station yesterday.
TfW have recently announced that the Coryton Branch will be closed on two Saturdays in September (6th and 13th). There are of course no Sunday services on this line so maybe these two weekends will be used to work on the foot crossing.

 

[tigermonstera]

The Cardiff Crossrail Transport and Works Act Order application is now viewable online, having been submitted earlier this month. The application is available at: https://planningcasework.service.gov.wales/case/CAS-03524-M6L5H9

Some observations:

• Construction is expected to take 28 months, starting in 2025 with the project opening in 2028.
• The works are estimated to cost £99,780,495. A cost breakdown is included in the "Estimate of Costs" document.
• The frequency will be 3tph until 2033, and then 6tph from 2033 onwards. I can’t see a reason given for why 2033 specifically — perhaps it’s related to the recent reports that TfW is procuring new rolling stock?
• The designs for the new platforms at Cardiff Central indicate it will have 4 overhead charging bars, two for each platform — I believe this is new.
• The current designs do not show a canopy for the Cardiff Central Crossrail platforms, with platform shelters being shown instead. Whether this is final or will change is unclear.

 

[John R]

I confidently predict that work won’t start in 2025 if the T&WA application has only just been published.

 

[tigermonstera]

I confidently predict that work won’t start in 2025 if the T&WA application has only just been published.

I believe permitted development rights allow the council, and potentially TfW, to carry out some preparatory works before the order is granted — for example around highways (see page 2 of this document). However you are right that the TWAO order won't be granted until next year at the earliest.

 

[positron]

Yeah they previously said it would be road preparation work this year which I doubt they need that order for. Good they're making progress, I wonder if by 2033 they expect to have some further extension done to justify running 6tph? A full 12tph to Cardiff bay feels quite intensive, will put the line of site and 3 platforms to the test.

 

[tigermonstera]

I wonder if by 2033 they expect to have some further extension done to justify running 6tph? A full 12tph to Cardiff bay feels quite intensive, will put the line of site and 3 platforms to the test.

In terms of extensions, Cardiff Council's latest corporate plan states that they want to complete the Pierhead street extension and the link to the City Line by 2030.