James Price had previously said (on the Green Signals podcast) that adding a connection between the street-level tram platforms and Cardiff West Junction was being discussed and could be logically added on to the funded Cardiff West upgrade, but it wasn't yet funded.
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South Wales 'Metro' updates
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R
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That was my thinking.
Indeed and it rather gave the game away after the pretend first phase of electrification on the Rhymney Line. But presumably safety is considered more important and the signage is part of that.
09matpal
Member
I assume it's the junction just before the 2 platforms allowing return on the right line.
Ramp seems odd but I think Central is slightly higher than Callaghan Square
rf_ioliver
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Seems like https://cardiff.moderngov.co.uk/ is blocking requests from abroad...hmmm
Anyway, good to see plans to Creigiau and I'm wondering now of the possibility to continuing via Rhiwsaeson, Cross Inn to Pontyclun - I guess the possibilities are now infinitely larger than they were...maybe?
CapitalStar378
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It would be good for RCT council to pick up the development with TfW past Creigau so it could be done at the same time.
The map in the document seems to have dropped Penarth as an extension, just going with the City line to Fairwater and along to Creigau.
Well Penarth I guess is already part of the network so not necessarily needed to be included in this.
I don't think Penarth has officially ever been listed under "cross rail" more just future tram train usage.
Looks like Cloudflare has decided to do that by itself. It's getting more and more unpredictable.
edwin_m
Veteran Member
That junction is needed to make a workable route in Phase 1, so it wouldn't be a separate phase. I agree Phase 2 is to connect onto Network Rail on the south side of Central.
VR494
Member
An interesting video created by the team at Green Signals, which fact checks the UK governments recent commitment to funding rail in Wales, including the South Wales Metro.
Bob Price
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It may not be so easy past Creigau, up to there is old railway track bed so easier to rebuild, though not without challenges. Beyond that would be an unknown. Doesn't mean it shouldn't be looked at however
The main line at Central is raised to allow the line to pass over the River Taff. The proposed ramp runs along the line of a ramped access track that allows road vehicles up to track level and to the signalling building.
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edwin_m
Veteran Member
The tram platforms are almost exactly on the site of Riverside Junction platforms, but these remained at a high level to pass over Penarth Road and down towards the Bay.
Smwrff
Member
I am confused with phases and stages....assuming phases are time dependent - are stages project maturity? So
stage 3 construction;
stage 2 detailed design;
stage 1 design concept;
stage 0 dream ?
Phases are funding chunks - only phase 1a is funded at present. The stages are from WelTAG (https://www.gov.wales/welsh-transport-appraisal-guidance-weltag):
Stage 1 is "Strategic outline case"
Stage 2 is "Outline business case"
Stage 3 is "Business case"
Stage 4 is "Delivery"
Stage 5 is "Monitoring and evluation"
Here's a screengrab with them explained in more detail. Phase 1a is at "Stage 3" for this meeting as the councillors are being asked to approve the Business Case (which by this stage includes results of the detailed design work) and then move forward to stage 4 for Delivery (i.e. finalisation of the design and construction).
Christian Schm
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Stage 1 usually whittling a long list of options down to a shortlist, using a qualitative assessment. Stage 2 should identify your preferred option, and for any larger project a quantitative benefit-cost analysis. Which means that do stage 2 the options need to be developed to such a degree that a fairly good cost estimate is possible. At the end of stage 2 you should really know what you want, and be in a position to take a principal decision. Stage 3 involves detailed design, so really shouldn’t be done without some certainty that the project will be delivered.
stressdoubt
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There is trackbed all the way from the old station north to where the Barry line used to cross over the TVR line that heads to Rhiwsaeson - I walked it back at Chrismas time and its as clear as its ever been. The bridge was removed years ago so it continues the other side up towards Efail Isaf but the TVR line towards Rhiwsaeson has been flooded for years. This is a photo I took where I am stood on in the middle of the old trackbed on the TVR facing back towards Creigiau. The path going upwards is heading up to the old Barry line that heads back to the old station and the stream is actually the flooded TVR - the line behind me heading to Rhiwsaeson looked in pretty much the same state. If the track ever makes it past Creigiau there will be some engineering challenges here for sure. Of course for that to be a consideration the Metro actually has to make it out to Creigiau in the first place...
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Last Hurrah
Member
Opening Euros ‘28 game in Cardiff is on 9th June ‘28
After issues with Rail transport for the Rugby World Cup in 1999, let’s hope the lessons have indeed been learned
Thought it was a bit more recent than 1999, but things like international football games will have a very different demand profile from a typical Wales at home Six Nations rugby game, or even a large concert. My recollection from the Champions League final (2017?) was that the demand was mainly to/from London, so the South Wales Metro, whilst playing a part, may not be particularly under pressure for the Euros compared with other routes to/from Cardiff Central.
Smwrff
Member
Thanks - that is now clear.
rf_ioliver
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Looks the same as the last time I walked that link, about 30 years ago!
Trackbed is clear all the way to Cross-Inn, though originally the line from Rhiwsaeson joined the Llantrisant-Tonteg line in the Tonteg direction at Common Branch Junction, initially to serve the pits at Llantwit Faerdre, Treferig and Ely. Of course, all the bridges have long gone at Cross-Inn after the construction of the bypass, and the line around to Tonteg and onwards has been built upon long ago - though running the 398s along the now B4595 (former A473) through to Tonteg and then to Trefforest would be nice given the amount of development there over the past 30+ years.
I was handed a little booklet yesterday at Queen Street station explaining the arrangements for today, and indeed those with "accessibilty requirements" are invited to use either station. It also says that (now anyway) on the web site referred to above.
The problem with lack of queuing space outside Queen Street appears to have been addressed by adding queuing capacity on the platforms and using platform 2 for all Southbound services.
The diagram makes it look as if platform 3 is used for Aberdare services but I don't think that's possible.
No suggestion of what someone for Cardiff Bay would do but then on previous occasions using the Bay line from Queen Street wasn't very practical as it would presumably have involved walking to Central, queuing, then changing at Queen Street.
In a nice sign of joined up thinking the final page tells you where to catch your bus from if you don't fancy queuing for a train.
There is a list of destinations on the web site to be served by Queen Street not Central and it doesn't seem to include Cardiff Bay so I'm not sure what the plan is, other than perhaps it's quicker for most people just to walk than queue to use the train.
Incidentally the whole change seems to be not because the area they previous used is currently unavailable due to construction works, but that it will be and they want to try things out now, and with hints that overall it's a better scheme anyway - they say this means they can increase the number of queues from 3 to 9 so that fewer destinations share a queue though I'm not sure quite how that works.
It'll be Aberdare via city line presumably?
Queen Street itself generally has quite large platforms so being able to use them as part of the queueing system makes a lot of sense.
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It says on the web page platform 2 for Cardiff bay so presumably the pontypridd to Cardiff bay services still ran.
Oh of course. I had forgotten that they now take the scenic way round. It makes sense that on a match day they want people to go that way rather than potentially saving a small amount of time by changing.
I didn't - and still don't - see that.
Transport for Wales to trial new crowd management for final Six Nations fixture.
Transport for Wales (TfW) will trial a new post match crowd management approach for the upcoming Six Nations fixture aimed at improving the match day experience for fans and prepare for major works at Cardiff Central.
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I haven't noticed much progress at Cardiff bay recently but the construction fencing has come down along part of Lloyd George avenue it's now a more normal looking fencing keeping you out. So small steps here and there as seems to be the theme with the bay works.
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I will say the Welsh government have royally screwed this up. Originally meant to be in place by 2023 and they've failed to do Crwys road (no signs of any movement), Butetown (at least visibly under construction), they've not got the flagship 4tph to each valley, the vale still 1tph past Barry. Admittedly there's some of the new trains and that's obviously a good step but for what they've promised it's a failure. Also Ebbw, Cheltenham and Maesteg have the wrong new trains but less of an issue to the public perception I guess.
Oh and obviously no sign of the tram trains other than sitting in sidings for years.
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WelshBluebird
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Electrification of the TAM lines, new trains replacing the 150s on those lines, later last trains on those lines, more frequent sunday services on those lines, contactless payg offering cheaper fares whilst making it easier to pay.
Ill give you it vastly depends on where you are and what services you used, but id hardly say the above is a total failure.
Of course its still short of what is promised but you can't ignore the real improvements that already have been made. Those kind of changes on other lines across the UK would be hailed as transformative already.
Ill give you it vastly depends on where you are and what services you used, but id hardly say the above is a total failure.
Of course its still short of what is promised but you can't ignore the real improvements that already have been made. Those kind of changes on other lines across the UK would be hailed as transformative already.
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Also new trains on the Rhymney line, and Sunday services where there was previously no service at all.
I’ve heard from a lot of people that the service from the valleys is already a noticeable improvement compared to What it was five years ago. Yes it’s taken a long time but tell me what U.K. transport project is ever delivered on time. Next year when Queen street upgrades are sorted out it will improve once again. As far as I am aware the funding to fix Cardiff west junction has been given as well which should help address that bottle neck as well. Building of new station I agree is required to help more people access but it’s defo improvement
CapitalStar378
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As frustrating as the delays are, it was never going to be 2023 with Covid knocking out 2020/21 from the schedule.
More recent go slows are probably down to funding admittedly, but in a relatively short time quite a lot has been achieved in fairness.
I thanks. I was referring to the information for passengers referred to earlier in this thread, not the press release.
Might be useful if they put it somewhere a bit less obscure. I can't imagine many people wanting to queue to get to the Bay but I wonder which queue they are suppose to get into if they do.