South Wales 'Metro' updates

[anthony263]

Work is progressing slowly to lengthen the platforms at Waungron Park on the City Line. I thought that these tram-trains were going to be short and frequent so am surprised that they are lengthening the platforms. Do they plan to have 2 units running together?

See photo taken at Waungron Park 9 April 2023 looking south from the city bound platform.

Yes a number of services will be pairs of 398s

 

[CardiffKid]

Yes, from what I recall every other service up each branch will be a double unit, at least in the peak.

Presumably the Cardiff Central services will be six car with the Cardiff Bay (and onwards services) being three?

Time will tell I guess.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Presumably the Cardiff Central services will be six car with the Cardiff Bay (and onwards services) being three?

Time will tell I guess.

The new Butetown station platforms are 120m long so assume that 6 cars will run to the Bay. High capacity will be needed when the new arena opens (or if?).

 

[Last Hurrah]

With lengthening platforms at Waungron Park, along with extensions at Fairwater & Danescourt, 13 of the 14 City line stations will be able to have longer trains than currently the case

The odd one out - Ty Glas on the Coryton branch - are there plans to extend Ty Glas platform ?

Can anyone summarise what work is actually going to be done on Coryton branch

 

[Peter Sarf]

With lengthening platforms at Waungron Park, along with extensions at Fairwater & Danescourt, 13 of the 14 City line stations will be able to have longer trains than currently the case

The odd one out - Ty Glas on the Coryton branch - are there plans to extend Ty Glas platform ?

Can anyone summarise what work is actually going to be done on Coryton branch

This week I am staying within sight of the line near Birchgrove, one stop from Ty-Glas. I poked my head over the bridge there. All I have noticed is cable trunking on stilts running in the middle of where the second track would/could have been. I will double check but no sign of mast bases. I have no idea what plans there are but not much evidence !.

At Birchgrove a sign on the road ramp says bridge works commence on 25/03/2023. No sign of activity though. The bridge has a temporary weight restriction and a leaflet through the door did talk about a few weeks (iirc) of repairs to the deck. If I remember correctly there were to be overnight closures for repairs. No mention of electrification in the leaflet so that is not the (official) reason for the bridge works.

 

[CapitalStar378]

With lengthening platforms at Waungron Park, along with extensions at Fairwater & Danescourt, 13 of the 14 City line stations will be able to have longer trains than currently the case

The odd one out - Ty Glas on the Coryton branch - are there plans to extend Ty Glas platform ?

Can anyone summarise what work is actually going to be done on Coryton branch

There was a planning application last year (link below) to extend the platform at Ty Gas, although it doesn't look that long. AFAIK it's just platform extensions and OLE on the City lines, the passing loop on the Coryton line and the extra platform at Rhiwbina were 'de-scoped'.

PRAP/22/00036/MNR | PLATFORM EXTENSION AND BICYCLE HARD STANDING AREAS | Ty Glas Station Field Way Heath Cardiff

www.cardiffidoxcloud.wales

 

[Llanigraham]

Coryton:
There is a work site set up on the opposite side of the road bridge from the station, and it looks like some work on the line of the old track. but I couldn't see any details. There is also a notice on the fence with some plans but again I couldn't read that.

 

[Last Hurrah]

Ely Mill Station ??

Crossing the footbridge from Cowbridge Road over the SWML, vegetation between SWML and the underpass for the City Line has been cleared and there are 30 or so large concrete blocks being stored in the cleared area

As the blocks are similar to those in the work compound next to Waungron Park Station, where platforms are being lengthened,
is work on Ely Mill Station imminent ?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Birchgrove.

A couple of nights ago I could hear drilling (into masonry). Probably the repair/strengthening work on the road bridge that was warned about but possibly for electrification ?. Forgot I had not posted that yesterday.

 

[Mister Ed]

Coryton:
There is a work site set up on the opposite side of the road bridge from the station, and it looks like some work on the line of the old track. but I couldn't see any details. There is also a notice on the fence with some plans but again I couldn't read that.

This is probably in connection with the controversial plans to build a replacement for Velindre Hospital on a greenfield site "Northern Meadows" immediately to the south west of the old trackbed where the line went from Coryton to Tongwynlais and beyond. Access for construction traffic would be via the work site you saw and the old trackbed. The NHS would then wish to sell the existing hospital site for housing.

There is an aspiration to restore track to some kind of park and ride near junction 32 of the M4 but I am not aware of any firm proposals nor the money to extend trains beyond Coryton.

 

[Llanigraham]

This is probably in connection with the controversial plans to build a replacement for Velindre Hospital on a greenfield site "Northern Meadows" immediately to the south west of the old trackbed where the line went from Coryton to Tongwynlais and beyond. Access for construction traffic would be via the work site you saw and the old trackbed. The NHS would then wish to sell the existing hospital site for housing.

There is an aspiration to restore track to some kind of park and ride near junction 32 of the M4 but I am not aware of any firm proposals nor the money to extend trains beyond Coryton.

The trackbed appears to be in a cutting, so I think that doubtful.

 

[daodao]

The trackbed appears to be in a cutting, so I think that doubtful.

While the trackbed is in a cutting, it is extant for about 1 mile west of Coryton and could be extended to serve the new Velindre Hospital and/or a park and ride facility next to the Asda supermarket at M4 junction 32, with step/lift access. However, as @Mister Ed stated in post 4356 above, there are no firm proposals to do so. Any extension would require a passing loop to be installed on the single track line, e.g. close to/at Rhiwbina halt, to enable at least a 30 minute frequency to be maintained, but previous plans to install a passing loop have been scrapped.

 

[edwin_m]

While the trackbed is in a cutting, it is extant for about 1 mile west of Coryton and could be extended to serve the new Velindre Hospital and/or a park and ride facility next to the Asda supermarket at M4 junction 32, with step/lift access. However, as @Mister Ed stated in post 4356 above, there are no firm proposals to do so. Any extension would require a passing loop to be installed on the single track line, e.g. close to/at Rhiwbina halt, to enable at least a 30 minute frequency to be maintained, but previous plans to install a passing loop have been scrapped.

With no need for the line to drop down into the valley as it did originally, it might be possible to partially fill the cutting and build any extension closer to grade. As well as improving access to the new station(s), this would create some new level ground that might be used for something else.

 

[mrmartin]

Crwys Road station was approved yesterday by Cardiff Council

https://www.cardiffidoxcloud.wales/...s.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=ZZZHX5ECDR786

ROPOSAL: PRIOR APPROVAL APPLICATION FOR A NEW STATION CONSISTING OF TWO PLATFORMS AND LIFT ACCESS TO CRWYS ROAD AND ASSOCIATED WORKS

CARDIFF COUNCIL as the Local Planning Authority in pursuance of its powers under the above mentioned Order, hereby CONFIRMS THAT PRIOR APPROVAL BE GRANTED by virtue of Part 11 in Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Developmetn Order 1995 (as amended).

 

[Vanmanyo]

Crwys Road station was approved yesterday by Cardiff Council; https://www.cardiffidoxcloud.wales/...PRAP_22_00046_MJR-DECISION_NOTICE-5720861.pdf

Has there ever been a station along there? Obviously, it's close to Cathays but I would be surprised if there has never been a station between Heath and Queen Street? I think it'll be a popular station with Uni students, especially how close you are to Cathays and the city centre.

 

[daodao]

I would be surprised if there has never been a station between Heath and Queen Street?

You may be surprised, but this is correct.

 

[Vanmanyo]

You may be surprised, but this is correct.

Wow fair enough. I can definitely see why they are building a new one here, wonder why they never did before? Maybe Cathys could deal with the traffic but not now?

 

[CapitalStar378]

There was a Cemetery station in the late 19th century for a while but otherwise it's always been a straight run from the Heath stations to Queen Street

Bob's Rail Relics has a video on it here;

 

[Vanmanyo]

There was a Cemetery station in the late 19th century for a while but otherwise it's always been a straight run from the Heath stations to Queen Street

Bob's Rail Relics has a video on it here;

Ah thanks a lot I'll give it a watch!

 

[Last Hurrah]

With a second platform at Rhiwbina & passing loop being de-scoped, cable trunking on stilts has been positioned where a second track would go

If a second track is added at some future date, the cable trunking will have to be moved, whereas if it been located a metre or so further back, it wouldn’t need re-locating

Was a marginal financial saving being made against a potential future cost outlay

 

[Hwnt52]

With a second platform at Rhiwbina & passing loop being de-scoped, cable trunking on stilts has been positioned where a second track would go

If a second track is added at some future date, the cable trunking will have to be moved, whereas if it been located a metre or so further back, it wouldn’t need re-locating

Was a marginal financial saving being made against a potential future cost outlay

This was Rhiwbina this afternoon with 153921 returning from Coryton. The trunking is clearly marked 25000V,

 

[Hellzapoppin]

If they had have moved the elevated route back a metre then it would probably clash with the stanchions and if you move them back a metre than that creates additional issues.

 

[MikePJ]

An update on Cardiff Bay this morning:

- the ground clearance has revealed the retaining wall for the second platform, which is being reinstated.

- some sleepers are being placed (not yet laid in their final position) on the trackbed for this platform

 

[Vanmanyo]

An update on Cardiff Bay this morning:

- the ground clearance has revealed the retaining wall for the second platform, which is being reinstated.

- some sleepers are being placed (not yet laid in their final position) on the trackbed for this platform
View attachment 133154

View attachment 133155

Looking very different from when I went in February! Just a piece of land with fencing around it, how long is work set to take place?

 

[MikePJ]

Looking very different from when I went in February! Just a piece of land with fencing around it, how long is work set to take place?

Until the end of 2024, according to https://tfw.wales/projects/metro/south-wales-metro/metro-central/cardiff-bay-line-transformation-faq

How long will improvement works take?

• From January 2023, we’ll be upgrading Cardiff Bay station and building a brand new station in the north of Butetown.
  Improvements to the Bay line will commence in early 2023 and complete around 2024.

 

[Vanmanyo]

Until the end of 2024, according to https://tfw.wales/projects/metro/south-wales-metro/metro-central/cardiff-bay-line-transformation-faq

Probably mid 2025 then, still good that work is commencing

 

[CapitalStar378]

The platform is being extended at Cardiff Bay station over where the sleepers are, I assume to where there seems to be some ballast in place.

The works are supposed to be finished by Spring 2024, although hopefully they may continue after towards Pierhead Street and Cardiff Central. No idea on timescales for this, does anyone know?

 

[MikePJ]

The platform is being extended at Cardiff. Bay station over where the sleepers are, I assume to where there seems to be some ballast in place.

The works are supposed to be finished by Spring 2024, although hopefully they may continue after towards Pierhead Street and Cardiff Central. No idea on timescales for this, does anyone know?

We don't have a clear timescale for the extensions to Pierhead St and Central as yet. The funding was only announced a few months back, so there'll be quite a long period of initial design, consultation, etc, before any works on the ground.



[EDIT] Here's an update on the morning Thursday 20th April. More pictures of Cardiff Bay station - there was a dumper truck and excavator there this morning, putting ballast on the reinstated track bed.



Yes, those are rails! Placed alongside the ballast at the moment.



Terminus end of the new platform.


View from the station approach path - you can just see the yellow excavator unloading the ballast in the distance.

The Bay branch is completely closed for two weeks (15th - 29th April), so I would not be surprised if we see some track and turnouts laid before the line reopens.

 

[John R]

Is the whole branch being doubled and/or electrified?

 

[anthony263]

Is the whole branch being doubled and/or electrified?

Yes it is and a new station at Butetown