But IIRC, when they were brought in the intention is that they would be replaced by the 756s, which from a passenger perspective are near identical, albeit quieter. So I’m not sure why they would have needed to say anything at all.
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South Wales 'Metro' updates
- Thread starter Envoy
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OK but that's not what happened is it? If the plans changed they didn't mention it or offer any explanation that I could see. Just quietly took the brand new trains away again.
If you're going to remove one train out of a clockface pattern during the validity of a timetable you can do two things. Warn people that it's happening (and maybe even explain why it's necesary - to fit the rail head treatment train in) - or just quietly remove it. You can guess which option they went for.
Maybe I'm being unreasonable but as someone who suffers TfW services I think their communication leaves a lot to be desired.
I have seen other TOCs offer explanations when they have problems and describe what they're doing to fix it.
I think it’s unreasonable to expect an announcement to the effect that some nice new trains are being temporarily replaced by some older ones. Simply replacing a new train by an older one doesn’t particularly inconvenience passengers, so doesn’t warrant an announcement, particularly as it’s relatively short term.
In the other hand, it’s perfectly right and proper that TfW would want to shout loudly about its new fleet when first introduced. What business wouldn’t, as one of the first tangible signs of the Metro project?
So that was an announcement aimed as much at the wider community in SE Wales that the vast amounts of public money are now producing results, as at the day to day passenger, who let’s face it would have seen the change the day it happened.
In the other hand, it’s perfectly right and proper that TfW would want to shout loudly about its new fleet when first introduced. What business wouldn’t, as one of the first tangible signs of the Metro project?
So that was an announcement aimed as much at the wider community in SE Wales that the vast amounts of public money are now producing results, as at the day to day passenger, who let’s face it would have seen the change the day it happened.
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Actually for many passengers reverting to high floor trains is very much an inconvenience.
I personally know one person who had given up on the railway and started using trains again because low floor trains that they could easily get on and off had appeared.
Tomos y Tanc
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Let's be realistic here. It's not a "vast amount of public money" compared to say HS2 or the Elizabeth line. It's crumbs. It's a good project, delivered a bit late but more or less on budget.
It's still crumbs though.
A billion quid plus is not crumbs for a surface level metro upgrade for one city.
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It might be 'crumbs' but won't have the impact for so many people as Elizabeth Line (HS2 unknown quantity at the moment as no-one has access to it yet)?
Where is funding coming from because if mostly Welsh Government then it is significant in terms of their spending and not crumbs in that case?
Bob Price
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A big chunk of the funding came from the EU and was obtained before we left.
It is for Wales. And it’s the biggest upgrade of the railways in SE Wales (indeed the whole of Wales) in living memory.
anthony263
Established Member
I suspect we will have to wait until till the spring whe. The uk government announces what infrastructure projects are going ahead.
Hopefully Cardiff West junction is sorted
According to TFW,
'Transport for Wales is leading a £139m investment programme, funded by the Department for Transport, the Welsh Government and Cardiff Capital Region,...'
i think this means funding is in place - it is the final design that was due to be announced. The precise figure of £139m implies that the design has been chosen - else how to arrive at this number??
Btw - I dont think Cardiff West Junction is part of this scheme but it would make sense to sort it out at the same time.
'Transport for Wales is leading a £139m investment programme, funded by the Department for Transport, the Welsh Government and Cardiff Capital Region,...'
i think this means funding is in place - it is the final design that was due to be announced. The precise figure of £139m implies that the design has been chosen - else how to arrive at this number??
Btw - I dont think Cardiff West Junction is part of this scheme but it would make sense to sort it out at the same time.
Why? It’s a track project whereas AIUI the Central station project is all to do with the facilities at the station. And it’s not even within the immediate station area.
The central scheme is about the capacity of the station, including stuff like making platform 0 bigger, so imo there's no reason to think £20m on some track to drastically improve platform capacity/utilisation on the valleys lines wouldn't be part of it. I think the tagline is something like making Cardiff central fit for 2040, and that's a must have.
Fwiw the latest I've read is that a planning application is expected to be submitted by the end of the year and it's hoped to be ready for 2028. See https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/new-look-cardiff-central-station-30096165 Though it did say a full business case was expected by end of November so perhaps it's delayed (unless the passenger isn't a key stakeholder which wouldn't surprise me).
Fwiw the latest I've read is that a planning application is expected to be submitted by the end of the year and it's hoped to be ready for 2028. See https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/new-look-cardiff-central-station-30096165 Though it did say a full business case was expected by end of November so perhaps it's delayed (unless the passenger isn't a key stakeholder which wouldn't surprise me).
Envoy
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I see that this thread has just surpassed 1 million views. I would like to thank everyone that has taken the time to make a contribution. We are now at an exciting stage of the project with the sprinters finally on the way out and the new stock taking over. I shall not be participating in the split off thread.
Moderator note: speculative discussion has been moved to the following thread:
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Moderator note: speculative discussion has been moved to the following thread:
South Wales 'Metro' expansion, including Hirwaun?
Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/south-wales-metro-updates.117763/page-222#post-7060084 I see that this thread has just surpassed 1 million views. I would like to thank everyone that has taken the time to make a contribution. We are now at an exciting stage of...
www.railforums.co.uk
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It's worth noting that the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal gets renewed every 5 years (the last one was in 2021) and so it's likely that some spending plans are pushed back beyond the next renewal date in 2026. Both the rebuild of Cardiff Central and the extension of tram-trains to Hirwaun are specifically linked to Cardiff Capital Region funding on the TfW website, so I wouldn't be surprised if their construction is deliberately planned to start after the renewal date in 2026. The upgrade to Central is at option development stage and due to report shortly, with the next decision point being to award funds for detailed design. From all the documentation that I can find online no trackwork changes are proposed -just improvements to the passenger and public enviornment.
You might see no reason, but clearly those actually planning and/or funding the scheme disagree, given the comments by @MikePJ.
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Ok, thank you for that.
Farigiraf
Member
Apologies if this has been answered already - is the plan to extend the Bargoed stoppers (hourly currently, only service to call at Energlyn and Gilfach Fargoed) to Rhymney, all stations, or at least increase the frequency? On all of the official 'South Wales Metro' maps, a Caerphilly and a Rhymney service is shown, but no Bargoed. And why are the intermediate stops between Bargoed and Rhymney occasionally omitted?
Yes. Rhymney is supposed to get 4tph once the project is completed, and these will be all-stops services. The extra service is possible because of signalling and track upgrades and the switch to electric trains (756s).
In the current service trains generally run non stop Bargoed to Rhymney and call at the intermediate stations on return or vice versa, alternating between these patterns. Tickets to/from the intermediate stations are valid via Rhymney where applicable - last time I made the trip some lads seemed quite familiar with that arrangement to get from Bargoed to Pontlottyn.
Interesting! I hadn't considered that would be faster than waiting.
Is there any visible progress on the Rhymney line recently? Not heard much since they wired the southern end. They've got a lot of wires to run and the track work on the northern end to get it all finished next year.
I have spent a few hours reading back through the 200+ pages of this thread and it is entertaining to read and see how the story has developed over 8/9 years - especially the views of one individual who kept categorically stating that X could not possibly happen or would be blocked by NR - only to be proven wrong.
Out of curiosity what was X in this case?
Markdvdman
Member
Well I thought today was the day the 756s would start to be rolled out wholescale to the TAM lines. Looked on realtimetrains and the first Merthyr and Aberdare trains are 150s! Hmm not looking good, as the 150s are getting expensive to repair now...
Yes, although it’s possible that because Sundays are currently worked as overtime, TfW couldn’t guarantee having 756 drivers available.
Markdvdman
Member
Well i asked on twitter well x and got this:
https://x.com/tfwrail
Trafnidiaeth Cymru Trenau Transport for Wales Rail
@tfwrail
Hi Mark, we will still make use of our older fleet of trains. Sorry if you were looking forward to travelling on newer trains. ^Cam
So it is total rubbish again putting everything back.
https://x.com/tfwrail
Trafnidiaeth Cymru Trenau Transport for Wales Rail
@tfwrail
Hi Mark, we will still make use of our older fleet of trains. Sorry if you were looking forward to travelling on newer trains. ^Cam
So it is total rubbish again putting everything back.
As far as I'm aware they never once said it would be a big switch over all at once. And complaining to the twitter support staff just makes you look like a prat to be perfectly honest.
They have already had the 756s out running on the valley lines and will continue to introduce them at a reasonable rate. Id much rather them run the 150s then have loads of cancellations because of teething problems.
In fact I seem to recall someone saying they wouldn't be on the treherbert lines until the new year.
Markdvdman
Member
That is absolute hypocrisy. A prat? I am a realist and a tax payer in private business! We are being taken for a ride! They did say at the new timetable change 756s would run. Why is everyone so defensive of TFW when they promise all the time but rarely deliver? I know there have been issues but 3 years late for the trams is an utter joke and the less said about trams on Heavy Rail Lines is another thing. TFW are on twitter for a reason - you are entitled to announce your opinion it is a free speech platform remember!