South Wales 'Metro' updates

[DD2]

I am attempting to find further information regarding the Cardiff “cross rail” route? Is this funding secured? Has a timeframe been set?

 

[Dai Corner]

Possibly. It was the Co-Op which ceased trading a few months ago. No hint was given at the time that it was because the building had been purchased by Network Rail or the Welsh Government so they could demolish it.

To clarify, I intended to say that I'm not aware from local media of any sale of the building or of any plan to demolish it. Apologies for any confusion.

 

[Envoy]

I see that the plans for a business park on Model Farm - just east of Cardiff Airport are still not decided. If a business park is built on this land, it blows the chance of having a Metro line into the
Airport terminal area at some point in the future.

Decision deferred on Model Farm application

A major decision which was due on plans to build a business park on land which has been farmed on for generations has been put on hold.

glamorganstar.co.uk

“Should there be a resolution to approve the application from members, the council would await a decision from Welsh Government on whether it should be referred to Welsh Ministers.”

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I see that the plans for a business park on Model Farm - just east of Cardiff Airport are still not decided. If a business park is built on this land, it blows the chance of having a Metro line into the
Airport terminal area at some point in the future.

Decision deferred on Model Farm application

A major decision which was due on plans to build a business park on land which has been farmed on for generations has been put on hold.

glamorganstar.co.uk

Is the airport well used enough to justify one anyway? Everyone here seems to go to Bristol.

 

[Envoy]

Is the airport well used enough to justify one anyway? Everyone here seems to go to Bristol.

It isn’t at present but who knows what will happen in the future? Certainly, if it had the number of flights that Bristol has, a loop line into the Airport from the Coast Line would be highly desirable. I have seen recent reports that Bristol is having a struggle coping with the number of flights - especially all the take offs in the early morning. It is a great pity that those who wish to fly from south Wales can’t do so from Cardiff Airport due to the lack of flights.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council have now issued legal notices of their intention to reduce the speed limit on the A4050 from Culverhouse Cross to the roundabout by Wenvoe Garden Centre from 50 to 40mph. (This is the main route linking the M4 and much of Cardiff to the Airport. Perhaps they have a death wish for the Airport)? The Welsh Government, having spent £millions on planning a new road route (via VOG Council) from M4 J34 at Miskin to the A48 near Bonvilston, then rejected the idea of providing this fast link to Cardiff Airport. (It would have gone through very attractive countryside). Now a solar farm is proposed for land between Wenvoe TV transmitter and St.Nicholas. If built, this would block any hope of a fast road to the Airport running south of the A48. Neither has anything come of building a Dinas Powis by-pass. (Practically all new road building has been banned by the Welsh Government).

One bit of good news is that the train service from Bridgend to Cardiff via Rhoose (short bus link to the Airport), is to be increased from hourly to half hourly. This will also be of particular benefit to anyone travelling between Barry and Bridgend and points west as it avoids going the longer way via Cardiff.

 

[NotATrainspott]

I don't see the developers of the business park being unhappy if the Welsh Government wanted to safeguard a route through it for the Metro. Having more jobs there wouldn't hurt the viability of an airport spur at all. The number of airport passengers switching to use the Metro would likely be small, but it could serve a useful role for the many people commuting to work at the airport and nearby businesses.

A full loop seems less likely than a triangular spur. Splitting the trains between Rhoose and an expensive airport loop wouldn't help as many people as it would inconvenience.

 

[geoffk]

(Practically all new road building has been banned by the Welsh Government).

Still road improvements going on though. The A465 Heads of the Valleys road has major roadworks around Merthyr. I was trying to get to the BMR at Pant and went round in circles!

 

[snowball]

Still road improvements going on though. The A465 Heads of the Valleys road has major roadworks around Merthyr. I was trying to get to the BMR at Pant and went round in circles!

The remaining section of the A465 was already committed before the decision was taken.

 

[stuu]

It isn’t at present but who knows what will happen in the future? Certainly, if it had the number of flights that Bristol has, a loop line into the Airport from the Coast Line would be highly desirable. I have seen recent reports that Bristol is having a struggle coping with the number of flights - especially all the take offs in the early morning. It is a great pity that those who wish to fly from south Wales can’t do so from Cardiff Airport due to the lack of flights.

Given the often ludicrous costs of rail these days, I wouldn't be that surprised if moving the terminal to the railway was a cost-effective solution

 

[Envoy]

Given the often ludicrous costs of rail these days, I wouldn't be that surprised if moving the terminal to the railway was a cost-effective solution

Yes, that sounds a good idea but I think it has been rejected. I also note that new housing is creeping eastward from Rhoose to cover land that could be used for parking should a south side terminal ever be built.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Yes, that sounds a good idea but I think it has been rejected. I also note that new housing is creeping eastward from Rhoose to cover land that could be used for parking should a south side terminal ever be built.

Housing surely is higher in the priority stakes than parking spaces.

 

[CardiffKid]

I am attempting to find further information regarding the Cardiff “cross rail” route? Is this funding secured? Has a timeframe been set?

No funding. Very much an aspiration of Cardiff Council

 

[snowball]

Press release on the Ebbw Vale line works, with some good photographs.

Network Rail thanks passengers and communities for their patience as Ebbw Vale line reopens

Network Rail has this morning reopened the Ebbw Vale line again to passenger trains after a nine-day closure.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Network Rail has this morning reopened the Ebbw Vale line again to passenger trains after a nine-day closure.

Teams of staff worked approx. 10,000 hours, day and night, between 22 and 30 October to carry out major upgrades along the entire line – which will enable an hourly service between Ebbw Vale and Newport, once the entire project is complete.

At Newbridge station, a rail bridge over Bridge Street was replaced using a 650-tonne crane; new track was installed, and platform extensions were carried out.

South of Newbridge station, a 40m x 20m retaining wall next to Riverside Park was taken down with approx. 250 lorry loads of spoil removed before the embankment was regraded. Engineers then installed 200m of brand-new track.

At Llanhilleth station, teams worked hard to install the foundations of the new platform on the southern end of the station.

Along the line, 53km of signalling cable was also installed as well as four trackside cabinets which will house new signalling equipment next to the railway.

The project team tried to keep disruption to a minimum overnight by using battery powered generators at the site compounds.

 

[DaveHarries]

I see that there are 2x 5-day closures between Pontypridd and Treherbert this month (6th - 11th & 21st - 26th) and I had heard, albeit a good while ago earlier this year, that the signalling system was going to get redone on that line at some point this year. I presume these closures are not for this to be carried out, more in preparation for it. Is it yet known when the key token system between Pontypridd and Treherbert will be replaced?

Dave

 

[Envoy]

It looks like ITV Wales News at 6pm today (Wed 9 November) will be running an item about the Metro.

 

[anthony263]

Be interesting to watch then

 

[Markdvdman]

Did anybody watch it? If so, any good?

 

[anthony263]

Did anybody watch it? If so, any good?

Didn't see anything on it

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Did anybody watch it? If so, any good?

Nothing’s good about the current moment. My local station hasn’t had a weekday service after 7pm for about a year now. If we’re lucky, one or two weekdays a week will be given services north of Radyr until 9pm or 10pm. It’s rare though.

 

[Dai Corner]

Nothing’s good about the current moment. My local station hasn’t had a weekday service after 7pm for about a year now. If we’re lucky, one or two weekdays a week will be given services north of Radyr until 9pm or 10pm. It’s rare though.

According to the ITV report you can expect another two years of that before the project is complete.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

According to the ITV report you can expect another two years of that before the project is complete.

Yay...

 

[Envoy]

If you want to see the Metro report on ITV Wales at 6 (Wednesday night) = EDITION HAS NOW BEEN REMOVED BY ITV WALES.

 

[CardiffKid]

Direct link here: https://twitter.com/mrmikegriffiths/status/1590613949552422912?s=46&t=CtQk-528AsJng-xC5evBww

 

[Markdvdman]

Good clip but to be honest they shut the Merthyr to Abercynon line for 25 days. All I could really see done was the start of a passing loop at quakers Yard and very little extra build on the new platform at Quakers Yard. So no electrical pylons too - the fact TFW had no pics available says it all. It would be nice if they could state what they actually did!

 

[Bob Price]

John Bulpin has posted an ariel shot of the depot at Taffs Well. Shows track being laid.

tw2

Transport for Wales new depot under construction

flic.kr

 

[WesternBiker]

John Bulpin has posted an ariel shot of the depot at Taffs Well. Shows track being laid.

tw2

Transport for Wales new depot under construction

flic.kr

Great shots.

 

[Envoy]

A consultation has now been launched regarding extending the Metro from Cardiff Central to Splott & Newport Road.

Future aspirations for Cardiff Central to Newport Road

A new public transport link from Cardiff Central to Newport Road via the Bay has long been an ambition of both Transport for Wales (TfW), the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council. Transport for Wales is exploring potential options for a new public transport link between

haveyoursay.tfw.wales

A seven-week consultation will be launched and the public and stakeholders invited to take part. Corridor options will be presented to the public and wider feedback obtained. The findings from the consultation will inform the outline business case for a potential future line extension from Cardiff Central to Newport Road, so that we can start preparing a proposal.

I wonder how they will get from the Central station across Callaghan Square to the Bay line? I thought these services were going to go through to the western section of The City Line? Going at ground level is likely to encounter delays by having traffic backed up across junctions. Part of the problem is that everybody is trying to get into the car park under John Lewis - or failing that - St.David’s 2 with that dreadful spiral that wastes about 12 minutes of parking time.

As things stand now, trains can reach the Bay without crossing any roads. If the tram-trains extend through the Bay area to reach the freight lines through Splott, again delays might occur by running on busy streets with traffic. The Red Dragon Centre is going to be demolished and I wonder if some of that land could be used to make the connection by running off- street?

Could all this be more bother than it is worth - especially if it meant that services could not keep to time? If services cannot keep to time, it is the upper valleys that will suffer most as it is vital that up & down trains meet at the passing loops.

 

[Wuggie Norple]

A consultation has now been launched regarding extending the Metro from Cardiff Central to Splott & Newport Road.





I wonder how they will get from the Central station across Callaghan Square to the Bay line? I thought these services were going to go through to the western section of The City Line? Going at ground level is likely to encounter delays by having traffic backed up across junctions. Part of the problem is that everybody is trying to get into the car park under John Lewis - or failing that - St.David’s 2 with that dreadful spiral that wastes about 12 minutes of parking time.

As things stand now, trains can reach the Bay without crossing any roads. If the tram-trains extend through the Bay area to reach the freight lines through Splott, again delays might occur by running on busy streets with traffic. The Red Dragon Centre is going to be demolished and I wonder if some of that land could be used to make the connection by running off- street?

Could all this be more bother than it is worth - especially if it meant that services could not keep to time? If services cannot keep to time, it is the upper valleys that will suffer most as it is vital that up & down trains meet at the passing loops.

The consultation document is very short of detail, but it seems that the so-called ‘Blue Line’ (see p11) from Newport Road to Cardiff Central via Cardiff Bay and Callaghan Square will be a self-contained 4tph tram-train service, terminating at Cardiff Central. I assume that heading to Central from the Bay, the line will descend to ground level at Callaghan Square after leaving the existing alignment and have some sort of reserved track to take it onwards to the terminus to the south of Cardiff Central. I guess it could be some sort of elevated track though.

In the Bay, the inference is that the new line from Cardiff Bay station towards Newport Road will also use a ground-level reserved track as it proceeds past Roath Basin to meet the existing freight-only rail alignment.
The only reference to true ‘on-street’ running is in Option 4 where there is some in the Lewis Road area. It is disappointing that there is no proposal to use on-street running in the Bay to route the new line a lot closer to Mermaid Quay which is surely a major source of potential traffic.

To be honest, I am not at all convinced there will be sufficient demand to justify the Blue Line section between Newport Road and the proposed Pier Head Street station. From there to Cardiff Central probably has a better business case in my view.

 

[the sniper]

Could all this be more bother than it is worth - especially if it meant that services could not keep to time? If services cannot keep to time, it is the upper valleys that will suffer most as it is vital that up & down trains meet at the passing loops.

I think it's a potential disaster. But poor choices have been made and I fear they'll now be committed to justifying the tram trains with some kind of street running.

A segregated Bay system is a nice idea though, so the 'Blue Line' is the only sensible option.

 

[Envoy]

Prof. Mark Barry suggests that Cardiff has a ‘Crossrail’ route going from Cregiau (& maybe Beddau) via a new line serving Cregiau, Plasdwr (new housing NW Cardiff) then joining the City Line just N of Fairwater station before proceeding to Central. At Central it could go through the car park & then across Callaghan Square to join the Bay Line. Then it would continue through the central Bay area to reach Splott and eventually the main line south side. So, it would appear that this consultation taking place now is to gather views on this eastern section from Central. No mention is made of it connecting with the western section at Central in this consultation. Goodness knows if that is still the intention? Mark Barry also mentions reaching the proposed Cardiff Parkway (near St.Mellons south). For that to happen, the tram-trains would have to go a few miles along the GWML relief lines - which are mainly used for freight trains.

Cardiff Crossrail

Cardiff Crossrail

swalesmetroprof.blog

Cardiff Crossrail will transform connectivity across the city and open up areas for new development and regeneration form Plas Dwr & Fairwater through Canton, Central Quay and Butetown to Splott, Tremorfa and onto Cardiff Parkway.