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South Wales 'Metro' updates
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Per TRACKmaps - both platforms at Newbridge are 97 metres long, same as Crosskeys, Risca and Rogerstone and shorter than the other Ebbw line stations so hardly excessive.
If it ends up being permanent it's going to be a big egg on their face for not building the passing loop on the coryton line to start with.
I'm assuming at the very latest it will be able to go back to stopping whenever network rail finally installs the second platform at Penarth. As that will give them the turnaround lee way at the middle of the route.
I'm assuming at the very latest it will be able to go back to stopping whenever network rail finally installs the second platform at Penarth. As that will give them the turnaround lee way at the middle of the route.
I'm not sure how much that actually helps, as both platforms are still at the end of a single track branch with one train coming off the branch a few minutes before the next one comes on, as with Coryton.
So any late running still has a significant knock-on effect.
I think all you can gain is the couple of minutes needed to turn round a train, since an outbound train could leave as soon as the inbound one is out of the way,
I can't see any way to get a real improvement so long as the line remains single track throughout.
Caerphilly remains the only place you can significantly add turnaround time.
They do seem to have done better on the whole this week, but disruption at Grangetown (signal problems?) yesterday afternoon as usual seemed to disproportionately affect the Coryton-Penarth services with a reversion to the familar behaviour. (Cancel one Coryton train then chuck people out of the next one at Ty Glas).
I'm not sure how much that actually helps, as both platforms are still at the end of a single track branch with one train coming off the branch a few minutes before the next one comes on, as with Coryton.
So any late running still has a significant knock-on effect.
I think all you can gain is the couple of minutes needed to turn round a train, since an outbound train could leave as soon as the inbound one is out of the way,
I can't see any way to get a real improvement so long as the line remains single track throughout.
Caerphilly remains the only place you can significantly add turnaround time.
They do seem to have done better on the whole this week, but disruption at Grangetown (signal problems?) yesterday afternoon as usual seemed to disproportionately affect the Coryton-Penarth services with a reversion to the familar behaviour. (Cancel one Coryton train then chuck people out of the next one at Ty Glas).
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Not sure what to make of this, other than to suppose that (Tuesday) 06/05/2025 is a typo for (Sunday) 06/04/2025. It would then make sense, except that this seems like the sort of thing you'd really want to be quite careful you put the right date on.
(Photo shows two "posters", one saying that electrification "shall" be energised on 06/04/2025 and the other that it "will" be energised on 06/05/2025. They seem to cover the same set of wiring, though one just says that the power will be on and the system should be considered live and dangerous, and the other gives information on working practises to be adopted).
(Photo shows two "posters", one saying that electrification "shall" be energised on 06/04/2025 and the other that it "will" be energised on 06/05/2025. They seem to cover the same set of wiring, though one just says that the power will be on and the system should be considered live and dangerous, and the other gives information on working practises to be adopted).
It's a misprint as "WK02" is rail week commencing 05/04/25 whereas 06/05/25 falls in week 06 - and is midweek and not during a blockade? Agreed it's a VERY serious error! Calendar attached.
Wow!
I presume that nobody is actually going to rely on these notices to decide when not to touch the wires, and it's next to one giving the correct date, but still.....!!!!
56xx
Member
Lots of plant being delivered to compounds at Rhymney Pengam and Llanbradach ready for the long Rhymney - Caerphilly engineering works closure.
I expect the 4 or 5 units usually stabled at Rhymney will add to the general overnight congestion around Canton during the closure.
I expect the 4 or 5 units usually stabled at Rhymney will add to the general overnight congestion around Canton during the closure.
Anonymous10
Established Member
I wonder if one or two may be kept at Caerphilly?
Well this is interesting:
https://tfw.wales/projects/metro/south-wales-metro/coryton-rhymney-line-transformation
For comparison, for the aborted attempt in February the wording was somewhat different:
I'm curious about the change in wording, given that just changing the dates on the original page would have been easier. It almost looks as if they are trying to hide the fact that they said the power would go on in February and it didn't.
While I can see some justification in not making it too obvious that the wiring is currently in a safe state for someone to help themselves to "scrap", they weren't shy first time round of making it clear that the power wasn't on yet.
I'm as sure as I can be that the power is currently not on - as well as the signs giving the energisation date (albeit some of them with a typo), there are grounding straps installed in a few places.
https://tfw.wales/projects/metro/south-wales-metro/coryton-rhymney-line-transformation
For comparison, for the aborted attempt in February the wording was somewhat different:
I'm curious about the change in wording, given that just changing the dates on the original page would have been easier. It almost looks as if they are trying to hide the fact that they said the power would go on in February and it didn't.
While I can see some justification in not making it too obvious that the wiring is currently in a safe state for someone to help themselves to "scrap", they weren't shy first time round of making it clear that the power wasn't on yet.
I'm as sure as I can be that the power is currently not on - as well as the signs giving the energisation date (albeit some of them with a typo), there are grounding straps installed in a few places.
Dai Corner
Established Member
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There have been three 3 car 197/1s on the branch today.
The 150s don't have much more life in them so they're probably trying to minimise their use.
56xx
Member
Detailed notice at Caerphilly this afternoon
Ah they've got the date right now.
After months without one, a new consultation has appeared online. It's about the reconfiguration of Cardiff Bay - the new platform will open and the old one will close on a date "on or after 11th May 2025". The consultation also describes the installation of a buffer stop on the new platform.
I think I can say with some confidence that the power got turned on.
This time the level crossing and bridge closures happened, and I saw workers on the track poking the wires with a long pole. Insulated I presume.
There was also a rather impressive flash and bang when a temporary cable of some kind was removed which I think would require either special effects or a healthy voltage in the wires.
Realtimetrains is showing what I presume are test trains (Q headcodes) in the wee hours on Thursday morning - lots of shuttling between Caerphilly, Heath Junction and Coryton.
Excellent news! Let's see if the test trains actually run this week...
I thought it was time for a quick update to my summary post from January 2025:
Late January consultation: installation of new points on the Bay line at Queen St and subsequent speed limit change (completed - now in use)
September 2024 consultation
Rolling stock introductions
Class 398s:
Back in October 2023 the earliest entry-into-service date for the 398s was proposed as 1st November 2024. These are held up waiting for regulatory approval (according to James Price on TfW podcast in March 2025) and likely to enter service in late 2025 and early 2026.
4-car 756s on Merthyr/Aberdare/Treherbert services
Promised: 4 x units/day in service from the end of December 2024, rising to 14/day by the spring (there are 17 of these units in total). Not sure what the exact number that are supposed to be in service is at present but it's around 8-10 based on a quick look at RealTimeTrains.
3-car 756s on Coryton/Caerphilly/Penarth services
Entry into service is now being trailed for "Summer 2025" as they've been held up waiting for the electrification. At least one 3-car unit has carried passengers on other services.
4-car 756s on Rhymney services
These need to wait for the electrification to go live and for 398s to take over services on the TAM routes, so aren't likely before early 2026. There is also the issue of mainline drivers (who drive the Bridgend via Barry trains) needing to be trained on the 756s.
Indeed.
And an excellent summary. Thanks.
More evidence suggesting the power is indeed on is that the two sets of earthing straps on the OLE that I saw on Friday appear to have gone.
Oh yes and the placards at stations warning of energisation have had stickers saying "NOW" put over the date. (I don't think they did that when they did the line through Pontypridd).
I don't know if the fixed conductor rail at Caerphilly is on - the signs about energisation looked to me as if they excluded that, but I'm not an expert in the nomenclature they use.
As for Coryton line speed changes, most of them seem to have happened now but not the 20 mph limit for the foot crossing between Whitchurch and Rhiwbina.
We just need the 5 mph TSR in Coryton station removing.
Daniel Boone
Member
So what are the remaining hurdles to introducing the 756/1s on the Coryton line?
EveningStarr
Member
I presume you mean the 756/0s (3-car) , as the 756/1s (4-car) aren't planned to operate Coryton.
Only 756007 has so far been in passenger service, so all the others need to be cleared. However, the main hurdle I can think of is Ty Glas platform - it's only long enough for a pair of 153s, and to stop the front of the train at the platform heading towards Coryton would mean fouling the crossing, so we're waiting on either a platform extension to accommodate the 3-car 756 (that's the plan, but AFAIK, not much progress on the ground yet), or to put a 3-car stop marker off the end of the current platform, and using selective door operation to only open the doors towards the rear of the train (this would be a quicker short-term solution to get them into service, although I'm not sure on the operational feasibility).
It looks like a 756 ran between Caerphilly and Heath a few times last night, presumably testing overhead lines. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:CPH/2025-04-10/0040
There's also post-energisation testing of the overhead lines (this will include things like confirming that there's no electromagnetic interference to signalling once the trains are actually running), and then there's likely to be some crew familiarisation. TfW are now saying "summer 2025" rather than "spring 2025" for entry into service, so that means June at the earliest and more likely July or August.
StripeyNick
Member
756004 did the honours
Per TfW and Realtime Trains - From start of service on Sunday 18 May 2025 (first train is the 08.43 from Cardiff Central due at 09.45) all Up trains are scheduled to stop at the new Aberdare arrival Platform 2 to set down. However, contrary to previous assumptions, passengers may remain onboard during the continuation to “departure” Platform 1 if they wish as that is by the car park whereas 2 is nearer the town for pedestrians and cyclists – trains remain Class 1 rather than 5 (ECS) throughout.
That makes a lot of sense to me. Especially if you consider they might extend it in future it wouldn't really make sense to be a tiny ECS move.
I wonder how platform 2 is setup is it clear that it's not designed for boarding?
Is there a TfW news article about it somewhere?
TravelDream
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The current platform is closer to the town centre than the new platform 2 by foot. Though they are pretty equidistant.
I wonder how popular it will be. I imagine most will stay on if the stop isn't long. And I doubt most guards would be bothered trying to get people off given the likely delays and potential bother this would cause.
Quite so; surely the longer term idea is that people can alight at platform 2 if platform 1 is already occupied by a train hopefully about to depart, rather than having to stay on until it's done so. Likely to be of more use once the full tram train service is in operation
TravelDream
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Presumably this is for the four per hour service that has been outlined rather than the current half-hourly one.
It was out again in the small hours of this morning - up and down between Caerphilly and Heath Junction https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...2025-04-11/0000-2359?stp=S&show=all&order=wtt
Interesting. Not to Coryton.
I know I said that the test train had been to Coryton the first time, but actually I think there are false manual entries showing up. The timings for Coryton don't seem to make sense.
(This occasionally happens with passenger trains that are turned round at Ty Glas but a manual entry is made showing them arriving and departing from Coryton)
And apparently Traksy at the time didn't show the train entering the branch.