Swansea 'Crossrail'

[S-Bahn]

I was looking at the railway maps around Swansea, comparing the old lines and tramways.

As many will know, tram-trains are being ordered for the Valley Lines and street running to Cardiff Bay.

Could a similar idea be used with the existing lines from Onllwyn and Blaengwrach (and extended to Glynneath etc) to the Swansea docks, and street running through Swansea to Mumbles and Dunvant, along the old tram and rail routes?

 

[anthony263]

Even better if your going to reopen the vale of Neath line to Glyneath using light rail why not investigate running beyond Glyneath to Hirwaun and Aberdare offering Connection with services to Pontypridd and Cardiff.

 

[S-Bahn]

Even better if your going to reopen the vale of Neath line to Glyneath using light rail why not investigate running beyond Glyneath to Hirwaun and Aberdare offering Connection with services to Pontypridd and Cardiff.

An interesting thought. A quick Google Maps suggests a track with passing loops could run parallel to the A465 joining up the two lines.

I think that's the big disappointment with the tram-trains for the Valley lines - They are only being used for 100m of street running in Cardiff Bay, and not to open up connections to other towns.

 

[MarkyT]

I think that's the big disappointment with the tram-trains for the Valley lines - They are only being used for 100m of street running in Cardiff Bay, and not to open up connections to other towns.

The advantage is that they will be compatible with future extensions that have not been envisaged or planned in detail yet.

 

[S-Bahn]

The advantage is that they will be compatible with future extensions that have not been envisaged or planned in detail yet.

True, but they could have been a lot bolder with this franchise.

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

The problem with this idea is the pattern of travel and employment in Swansea. Unlike Cardiff, very few of the major employers in Swansea are in the city centre. Employers like the DVLA, Morriston and Singleton hospitals, the university campuses etc are scattered across the city. It's a chicken and egg situation. Why create links to the city centre when not many people want to go there?