Could Cardiff Airport be directly linked to the National Rail network?

[Cathays147]

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/tfw-fares-to-from-cardiff-airport.244615/

Slightly off the topic of fees but have there ever been any plans/is it feasible to extend the current Vale line to create a station in the airport itself?

 

[Envoy]

Slightly off the topic of fees but have there ever been any plans/is it feasible to extend the current Vale line to create a station in the airport itself?

Yes, it has been noted that a rail link to the terminal would be possible and this could be one of the reasons why a planned business park on farmland east of the airport has been cancelled? (The land would be needed for the rail link. The present road at the end of the runway could be converted to a railway and a new road constructed east of the present alignment - see image). Clearly, if Cardiff Airport had the number of flights that Bristol has, it would probably be worth the cost and would be a massive selling point for enticing more airlines to use the airport. However, at present no plans exist for such a link. We digress here from the topic of fares to Rhoose Cardiff International Airport station - which I see have now been corrected on journey planners = the power of Rail Forums in reaching the people that matter!

The image below is my own indicating a possible alignment of a rail link into Cardiff Airport from the Vale of Glamorgan Coast Line. Any further comments on this should be posted under ‘Speculative Ideas’ as this is answering the query above. The present bus link from Rhoose station is 2 miles. It is disappointing to see that the Vale of Glamorgan Council have just given planning permission for housing on land just east of the station car park at Rhoose. When this station gets 2 trains per hour, it could well attract more commuters from the surrounding area and as a result, the present car park will run out of space resulting in people parking on nearby roads. I am surprised that Transport for Wales did not object to this housing in order that the car park could be expanded should the need arise.

 

[StKeverne1497]

Yes, it has been noted that a rail link to the terminal would be possible and this could be one of the reasons why a planned business park on farmland east of the airport has been cancelled? (The land would be needed for the rail link. The present road at the end of the runway could be converted to a railway and a new road constructed east of the present alignment - see image). Clearly, if Cardiff Airport had the number of flights that Bristol has, it would probably be worth the cost and would be a massive selling point for enticing more airlines to use the airport. Anyway, we digress here from the topic of fares to Rhoose Cardiff International Airport station - which I see have now been corrected on journey planners = the power of Rail Forums in reaching the people that matter!

The image below is my own indicating a possible alignment of a rail link into Cardiff Airport from the Vale of Glamorgan Coast Line. Any further comments on this should be posted under ‘Speculative Ideas’ as this is answering the query above. The present bus link from Rhoose station is 2 miles. It is disappointing to see that the Vale of Glamorgan Council have just given planning permission for housing on land just east of the station car park at Rhoose. When this station gets 2 trains per hour, it could well attract more commuters from the surrounding area and as a result, the present car park will run out of space resulting in people parking on nearby roads. I am surprised that Transport for Wales did not object to this housing in order that the car park could be expanded should the need arise.

Regarding your proposed alignment - that's quite an engineering feat. There would need to be a bridge across the valley near the blue "i" (and we'd all miss travelling across the Porthkerry viaduct), there's quite a lot of road-crossing to be done, and where the diversion rejoins the existing line is in a fairly deep cutting (IMSMC) so there's quite a bit of engineering involved getting the line down the hill from the alignment around the end of the runway.

I believe an alternative proposal has previously been made to rebuild the terminal buildings on the opposite side of the runway - where the Flying Club currently has its headquarters - unfortunately the housing around that part of Rhoose makes weaving a line through there fairly difficult too.

 

[AlterEgo]

A more sensible and less harmful way of connecting South Wales to international destinations is to build a branch line and station at Bristol Airport and let Cardiff Airport decline naturally.

 

[Dai Corner]

A more sensible and less harmful way of connecting South Wales to international destinations is to build a branch line and station at Bristol Airport and let Cardiff Airport decline naturally.

Building a railway to Bristol airport would require some very impressive civil engineering, and finance to match. I don't think we'll ever see more than the express bus from Temple Meads.

 

[mrmartin]

What would be good is a regular direct bus from cardiff to bristol airport directly. There are a few services from megabus and national express but they're a bit randomly timed. Surely must be enough passengers to justify an hourly bus?

 

[Envoy]

What would be good is a regular direct bus from cardiff to bristol airport directly. There are a few services from megabus and national express but they're a bit randomly timed. Surely must be enough passengers to justify an hourly bus?

The buses can get stuck in traffic jams on the M4 and in Bristol. The buses tend to be every other hour - meaning you could be hanging around Bristol Airport for up to 2 hours for your bus to Cardiff. The bus shuttle from Bristol Airport to Temple Meads is roughly every 20 minutes and the trains to Newport & Cardiff are every 30 minutes - so train wins - except on price.

Of course, the tunnel choke point on the M4 at Newport also affects anyone coming from southern England to reach Cardiff Airport and is a major negative for the Welsh Airport. However, if Cardiff Airport had a direct rail link it would certainly help swing things in its favour. Even when they get 2 trains per hour calling at Rhoose, it would be a major plus point for Cardiff Airport as the bus shuttle is only 2 miles on relatively quiet roads.

Building a railway to Bristol airport would require some very impressive civil engineering, and finance to match. I don't think we'll ever see more than the express bus from Temple Meads.

Both airports developed from wartime airfields. If someone said today that we should build a new airport to serve SW Britain then somewhere on the mainline railway and near the motorways & mid way between Cardiff & Bristol would have been chosen. Llanwern might have been ideal when they shut down the blast furnaces (rolling mill still exists) as this would not have taken up greenfield land and the main line railway was right alongside and a new M4 south of Newport would have provided the road link. Anyway, the Welsh Government decided to press on with Rhoose rather than decide to build a new airport at Llanwern to serve the whole of south Wales plus the Bristol region along with Gloucestershire and the rest is history.

 

[Western Lord]

Both airports developed from wartime airfields. If someone said today that we should build a new airport to serve SW Britain then somewhere on the mainline railway and near the motorways & mid way between Cardiff & Bristol would have been chosen. Llanwern might have been ideal when they shut down the blast furnaces (rolling mill still exists) as this would not have taken up greenfield land and the main line railway was right alongside and a new M4 south of Newport would have provided the road link. Anyway, the Welsh Government decided to press on with Rhoose rather than decide to build a new airport at Llanwern to serve the whole of south Wales plus the Bristol region along with Gloucestershire and the rest is history.

The best option would have been to have developed Filton, adjacent to rail and road links and with an 8000 foot long runway.

 

[Dai Corner]

The best option would have been to have developed Filton, adjacent to rail and road links and with an 8000 foot long runway.

Too many houses under the flight paths, unfortunately.

 

[Western Lord]

Too many houses under the flight paths, unfortunately.

I'm talking about in the 1950's, before the areas around the airfield were developed.

 

[Caaardiff]

Cardiff Airport actually fares quite well in comparison to rail links from South Wales to other UK Airports.

Cardiff Airport from West - Train to Bridgend, change to Rhoose, 10 min shuttle bus (1h22 from Swansea)
Cardiff Airport from East - Train to Cardiff Central, change at Rhoose for 10 min shuttle bus. (40 mins from Cardiff Central)

Bristol - Train to Temple meads, which requires a change at Cardiff Central if coming from West, bus link to BRS (Approx 25-30 min drive) (2hr44 from Swansea)
Birmingham - Train to Cardiff Central, change to XC to New St, Change at New St for international, monorail to terminal. (3hr30 from Swansea)
London Heathrow - Train to Reading, change to Elizabeth line and change at Hayes. Or Train to Paddington and change to Heathrow Express. (Approx 3hr30 from Swansea)
London Gatwick - Train to reading, change to Gatwick train. (Approx 4hr10 from Swansea)
Manchester - Train to Wilmslow, change to Airport. Or Train to Piccadilly, change to Airport. (Approx 4hr50 from Swansea)

Most of the above Airports don't have direct train links from mainline stations. Also look at Luton that has just had the light rail link built from it's main station, and passenger numbers far exceed anything Cardiff Airport can only dream of. There's absolutely no reason for a rail spur for Cardiff Airport.

What's needed is a 2tph service serving Rhoose. The benefits of that would also service Rhoose and Llantwit Major, as well as the Airport.
It would be good if the service improvements can be made to better serve West Wales with a direct link.

What I would like to see is a Cheltenham - Swansea/Carmarthen service. It would provide a direct link from Chepstow area/Newport as well as West Wales to Rhoose. The issue would be squeezing them in between Cardiff Central and Barry.

 

[PTR 444]

A more sensible and less harmful way of connecting South Wales to international destinations is to build a branch line and station at Bristol Airport and let Cardiff Airport decline naturally.

I doubt Wales would want to lose its only major airport for political reasons, regardless of how commercially viable it is.

I'm talking about in the 1950's, before the areas around the airfield were developed.

Even if Filton had developed into Bristol Airport (which it should have done IMO, transport links are far superior), Cardiff would have likely remained open.

 

[Caaardiff]

A more sensible and less harmful way of connecting South Wales to international destinations is to build a branch line and station at Bristol Airport and let Cardiff Airport decline naturally.

Bristol Airport is on a steep hill up from the Mainline. It would be near impossible to get a train link to the Airport.

 

[Envoy]

What's needed is a 2tph service serving Rhoose. The benefits of that would also service Rhoose and Llantwit Major, as well as the Airport.
It would be good if the service improvements can be made to better serve West Wales with a direct link.

What I would like to see is a Cheltenham - Swansea/Carmarthen service. It would provide a direct link from Chepstow area/Newport as well as West Wales to Rhoose. The issue would be squeezing them in between Cardiff Central and Barry.

I could not agree more with what you have said. Send the Cheltenham services via Rhoose and extend them as stoppers to Swansea or even further west. The Ebbw Vale to Maesteg services could take care of the stops on the main line between Cardiff & Bridgend. Seeing Rhoose - Cardiff Airport on the departures signs at Cheltenham & Gloucester would surely induce people in that area to consider using Cardiff Airport?

Nothing is more annoying than finding the trains from Rhoose not having a slick connection with services to/from places west of Bridgend. By continuing as stoppers to Swansea, this problem would not arise.

PS. Qatar Airlines are re-starting their flights from Cardiff to Doha in the autumn. Its a pity that Easyjet don’t use Cardiff Airport as people in Somerset are fed up with the continuing growth of Bristol Airport. At least Ryan Air are now operating some flights from Cardiff. A pity that Jet 2 chose Bristol over Cardiff. The attitude seems to be why bother with Cardiff when we can get all the south Walians to go over to Bristol.

I also note that most diesel cars now get hit with the £9 Bristol Clean Air Zone on the route through the gorge from the M5 to Bristol Airport. This has led to people taking back roads through places like Portbury village in order to avoid the £9 charge.

 

[stuu]

Bristol Airport is on a steep hill up from the Mainline. It would be near impossible to get a train link to the Airport.

Tricky within any realistic budget, but not from.an engineering point of view. A tunnel to an underground station would be possible, with gradients no steeper than elsewhere on the network