South Wales 'Metro' updates

[AdamWW]

one of these?

How do Northern's CAF units know which side the platform is on?

Shortly before arrival into a station, Northern's CAF units sometimes announce "door will open on the left/right". It's hit and miss though, which suggests entered by driver/guard or possibly just that Northern are having teething issues with it. At a guess, the PIS knows the headcode and...

www.railforums.co.uk

Yes that very much looks like it. It's all I could think that it could be, but I hadn't thought they'd need it at Heath Low Level or Coryton, at least for 3 car trains.

I'd assumed they'd just stick to 3 car trains on the line - but maybe not?

It does look to me as if ASDO will be needed at Ty Glas, and I'm curious as to whether it will cope gracefully with trains terminating there.

Edited to add:

Looking on Google Maps, the platform at Heath Low Level looks as if it's a bit more than twice as long as Ty Glas. Since Ty Glas takes 2x153 (just), it's hard for me to see why Heath would need ADSO because a 4 car 756 is shorter than 4x153. Not sure about Coryton because trees get in the way of the aerial images.

 

[MikePJ]

Yes that very much looks like it. It's all I could think that it could be, but I hadn't thought they'd need it at Heath Low Level or Coryton, at least for 3 car trains.

I'd assumed they'd just stick to 3 car trains on the line - but maybe not?

It does look to me as if ASDO will be needed at Ty Glas, and I'm curious as to whether it will cope gracefully with trains terminating there.

Edited to add:

Looking on Google Maps, the platform at Heath Low Level looks as if it's a bit more than twice as long as Ty Glas. Since Ty Glas takes 2x153 (just), it's hard for me to see why Heath would need ADSO because a 4 car 756 is shorter than 4x153. Not sure about Coryton because trees get in the way of the aerial images.

It looks a lot like a Sella Controls Tracklink III beacon - the corresponding readers from the same company are fitted to the 756s. Quoting from the company's literature:

Typical utilisation is for train Automatic Selective Door Opening
(ASDO), Correct Side Door Enabling (CSDE) and other
applications such as in/out regeneration area, PIS trigger,
pantograph up/down, traction limiting, speed limiting and any
other geographical application triggers.

So at Heath Low Level it could be for Correct Side Door Enabling, to trigger the passenger information system, or perhaps as a just-in-case for ASDO for four-car units?

Hard to describe but here's an image.

Garry Keenor's book (free to read online) is a great reference guide to overhead electrification. The surge arrestor in his book (page 56) looks exactly like the one in your picture - a horizontal insulator and a vertical one. The vertical unit contains the arrestor itself, and the little box on the flimsy-looking piece of wire is just a counter that counts the number of times that the surge arrestor has been activated. This gets inspected periodically because the arrestor is only good for a certain number of surges, so if it gets near its design life it gets replaced.

 

[Bob Price]

So did the wires go live successfully? I have been looking for odd paths over the next couple of days to see if any 756 testing is happening, but nothing obvious.

I have noticed a few Tram Train paths are in however for this week. Testing still happening.

 

[MikePJ]

I had a very brief look at Cardiff Bay this morning - the signage has gone up for the temporary station entrance on Lloyd George Avenue, but there's still site fencing to be removed from the platform and lengths of plastic pipe to be removed from the track before the new platform can be used. I did glimpse a couple of road-rail excavators being deployed roughly where the track slew is due to happen, but it wasn't clear to me what works were planned. The line reopens at 1800 each day so whatever work is being done this week can't involve blocking the line for long.

 

[AdamWW]

I had a very brief look at Cardiff Bay this morning - the signage has gone up for the temporary station entrance on Lloyd George Avenue, but there's still site fencing to be removed from the platform and lengths of plastic pipe to be removed from the track before the new platform can be used. I did glimpse a couple of road-rail excavators being deployed roughly where the track slew is due to happen, but it wasn't clear to me what works were planned. The line reopens at 1800 each day so whatever work is being done this week can't involve blocking the line for long.

A previous post said it was because piling work had been moved to the daytime after noise complaints.

Commendable for them to listen, but again a line closure announced with almost no notice (and confusing messaging on their web site).

So did the wires go live successfully?

I think it unlikely.

There was supposed to be a two day bridge and level crossing closure which I don't think happened.

There was some work on the line though - new speed limit signs, and Coryton station has now lost its little bit of bullhead rail, rail built buffer stop with red light and instead has gained a posh new stop block with just a reflective strip (and a 5 mph temporary speed restriction).

 

[Bob Price]

From the Transport For Wales Facebook group:
️We're holding events along our newly electrified routes to remind the public of the safety when using the railway.

Join us at the following stations

Caerphilly: Today between 10am-1pm
Ty Glas: Wednesday 5 February, 10am-1pm
Heath High Level: Friday 7 February, 10am-1pm

I may take a break on Friday to go visit and see what they have to say.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

From the Transport For Wales Facebook group:
️We're holding events along our newly electrified routes to remind the public of the safety when using the railway.

Join us at the following stations

Caerphilly: Today between 10am-1pm
Ty Glas: Wednesday 5 February, 10am-1pm
Heath High Level: Friday 7 February, 10am-1pm

I may take a break on Friday to go visit and see what they have to say.

“These wires are now live, don’t touch them, stay off the tracks, see it say it sorted.”

 

[AdamWW]

“These wires are now live, don’t touch them, stay off the tracks, see it say it sorted.”

I strongly suspect that if they say that they will be fibbing.

 

[takno]

According to Traksy Cardiff bay has had it's platform switched over. Can anyone confirm?

Edit: Traksy seems to have jumped the gun

I switched Traksy because I noticed the change was reported as having happened in Trackwatch in Modern Railways. I thought I'd got to it late

 

[CapitalStar378]

Has anyone seen anything of the Cardiff Central development plans? These were to be put in at the end of last year but nothing has appeared.

 

[MikePJ]

Piling works are underway at Butetown today. An area of the grass and trees between the railway embankment and Bute St has also been fenced off, presumably for the construction of the new entrance.

The piling is pretty noisy so I can see why people complained. Still, it reflects poorly on the project managers that this wasn't planned ahead, as it's well-known to be a noisy activity unless a "silent" piling rig is used.
View attachment IMG_2111.MP4

Has anyone seen anything of the Cardiff Central development plans? These were to be put in at the end of last year but nothing has appeared.

No. I've just looked up the most-recently-published minutes of the agency that's funding it (from a meeting in late November) and found the following:

8. Metro Central [MikePJ comment - this is the project to upgrade Cardiff Central and environs]
Mike Brough presented a report on the updated Cardiff Central Enhancements Programme Outline Business Case (OBC). Members were updated on the history of the scheme, financial implications, planning issues and timeframe for the project.
Members expressed their support for the scheme and the proposed approach for delivery. It was considered that it would be crucial infrastructure that would not only benefit Cardiff but the region as a whole.
It was Resolved:
1. To note the updated OBC for Cardiff Central Enhancements Programme; and
2. Note the timeline for the Full Business Case and its proposed journey through Cardiff Capital Region governance in early 2025.

The meeting was held in closed session so the minutes don't include much in the way of detail as to what was proposed or discussed. Presumably the plans will be made public once the committee are happy with them.

 

[Phil from Mon]

I see the new Park and Ride as Pontypool and New Inn is still not open. I think it last got a mention on here back in August - does anyone have any idea when it may be functioning?

 

[Philip Roberts]

I see the new Park and Ride as Pontypool and New Inn is still not open. I think it last got a mention on here back in August - does anyone have any idea when it may be functioning?

I think it's this month. I can't recall where I saw that though sorry

 

[Envoy]

I see that the residents of Windermere Avenue near Cardiff’s Roath Park are complaining about the ugly electrification equipment. Perhaps they should note that they will no longer be subjected to diesel fumes and the electric trains are quieter.

They will also benefit (along with Heath Hospital) if the nearby Wedal station is built. (I think this should have priority over Crywys Road).

'It's pretty ugly' say people living next to newly electrified railway lines

The electrification of railway lines in Cardiff has seen the installation of huge metal gantries and wires

www.walesonline.co.uk

A number of residents living on Windemere Avenue in Cyncoed said while they were notified by TfW about electrification works, they didn't know about the visual impact. The TfW website states that its delivery partners for the Metro do not need planning permission to carry out upgrades to the railway line.

 

[Tetragon213]

Darn, and here we were having a good time before someone had to bring up the Nimbys!

 

[Broseley man]

Darn, and here we were having a good time before someone had to bring up the Nimbys!

Wedal station? Where is that going to be?

 

[anthony263]

Darn, and here we were having a good time before someone had to bring up the Nimbys!

Good thing planning rules are being changed then

 

[chrisjo]

Wedal station? Where is that going to be?

aka Roath Park or Roath Park/Wedal Road depending on which document you look at.

 

[Broseley man]

aka Roath Park or Roath Park/Wedal Road depending on which document you look at.

View attachment 174009

Thanks for the response. I had heard of Roath Park station and can see that Wedal Road is the site. I haven't seen anything about progress with this. Anyone any ideas?

 

[I'm here now]

It had changed, the plan as of December 2023 was to electrify all the way to Rhymney.

View attachment 173607


In other news it looks like the 231 should be getting at least pantographs fitted.




See https://tfw.wales/sites/default/files/2025-01/TfW-Rail-Board-Minutes-11-10-24_R.pdf

What are the 231s supposed to be working? SWML?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Thanks for the response. I had heard of Roath Park station and can see that Wedal Road is the site. I haven't seen anything about progress with this. Anyone any ideas?

Previously referred to as Albany Road! Due to open in 2024, oh, hang on.

 

[Bob Price]

If it's Wedel Road then it probably on the site of the old cemetery station which opened in 1871. Only lasted a few years.

 

[chrisjo]

Previously referred to as Albany Road! Due to open in 2024, oh, hang on.

I think Albany Road station is/was an alternative name for Crwys Road station, not for Wedal Road/Roath Park?

 

[Smwrff]

Crwys Road Station is part of current Metro plans. It has planning permission and is expected to be open in 2026.

Roath Park (aka Wedal Road) is part of Crossrail - nothing firm yet but maybe 2028

 

[Envoy]

Crwys Road Station is part of current Metro plans. It has planning permission and is expected to be open in 2026.

Roath Park (aka Wedal Road) is part of Crossrail - nothing firm yet but maybe 2028

I would hope that Wedal Road would be called Roath Park because most people don’t have a clue as to where Wedal Road is - although it does give a more specific location than just Roath Park - which is big. I think the station would be on the south side of Wedal Road although it would be a good idea to have the platform as part of the bridge - similar to Waungron Park.

The benefit of Roath Park (Wedal Road) station would be massive as it would be the shortest walking distance into Heath Hospital - especially of they made a new footpath on the south side of the cemetery. (A pity Heath Hospital was not on the site of the cemetery as the station would have been right at the hospital - a mistake not being made with the new Velindre Hospital).

All day long, Wedal Road is rammed with parked cars - presumably from hospital workers.

Surely, this is nothing to do with Crossrail as that is a west > east route from Cregiau/Plasdwr via the City line to Central and down to the Bay and on to Newport Road via Splott?

 

[MikePJ]

There is a new industry consultation document out from TfW this week, but it simply revises TfW Rail’s contract to specify the use of 756s and 231s as rolling stock. It removes 769s and locohauled stock from the contract. This is just bureaucratic tidying and makes no real change. At some point a future revision will be issued to add the 398s, but this doesn’t have to happen before they enter service.

Surely, this is nothing to do with Crossrail as that is a west > east route from Cregiau/Plasdwr via the City line to Central and down to the Bay and on to Newport Road via Splott?

We don’t yet know the service pattern that will work Crossrail, but one diagram from an engineering study was proposing that it could incorporate the existing Coryton and Penarth service eventually. That does require the tram platforms to be linked to Cardiff West Junction in a later phase of work, but it looks like the engineers were briefed to look at improving transport within Cardiff and near suburbs, whereas the Metro project as underway today is more about the valleys. Anyway, this map includes a Roath Park station, so presumably it’s intended to be built as part of a later phase. But to reiterate: the only part of Crossrail currently funded is Cardiff Central-Butetown-Cardiff Bay.

 

[positron]

What are the 231s supposed to be working? SWML?

Yeah they'll be doing the metro services from Maesteg - Cardiff - Ebbw Vale (presumably also Ebbw to Newport), as well as Cardiff to Cheltenham. So the Maestegs would have a short section from Cardiff to just before Newport under wires and Cheltenhams would be wired from Cardiff to Severn Tunnel Junction.

I'm also assuming they'll be what's used for any Burns services to Bristol, so potentially a bit further under the wires to Patchway.

What it does do is help justify further electrification even if in a more discontinuous fashion in the non-core valleys, but that's straying into speculative and is probably best for the other thread.

 

[AdamWW]

Some STP overnight non passenger runs shown on Realtimetrains now between Caerphilly, Coryton and Cardiff for today and tomorrow.

Not clear if anything ran this morning - only one shows actual times and that's just between Central and Canton and I'm not sure what to make of that.

Maybe the wires were energised on Sunday and they discovered they could do it without the planned two days of bridge and crossing closures?

 

[positron]

The south Wales metro updates twitter account has said they went live on the first. Idk if they are just guessing or have been told that they have actually gone live.

 

[AdamWW]

The south Wales metro updates twitter account has said they went live on the first. Idk if they are just guessing or have been told that they have actually gone live.

Well maybe they have - still seems odd though to say there will be two full day closures of bridges and crossings then to be able to carry out the work without it.