Transport Links - Cardiff Airport

[Envoy]

Yes, I know that this is a ‘Rail Forum’ but it appears that various options are being considered regarding improving transport links to Cardiff Airport. One such option involves building a new railway station on the mainline at M4 J34 (Miskin) and then having buses connect with Cardiff Airport via a new road cutting across the Vale of Glamorgan near Pendoylan. I can understand the possible desirability of having a station at Miskin with a P&R but the idea of it serving Cardiff Airport seems to be quite ridiculous. Why would anybody travel to Miskin to then catch a bus to Cardiff Airport when a railway already goes very close to the Airport - which then has a 1 mile bus link? The trouble with this railway - which links with the mainline at Bridgend and Cardiff Central, is that trains are only 1 per hour (2 per hour on Sundays). Surely, priority should be given to increasing the frequency on this line as a more cost effective way of getting people to and from Cardiff Airport by public transport? Expresses that currently stop at Cardiff and Bridgend are not going to stop at Miskin.

https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/Documents/Our Council/consultation/J34-to-A48/WelTAG-Stage-Two-M4-J34-to-A48-Outline-Business-Case-Report.pdf

1. Option G: Parkway Railway Station including Park & Ride facility and Bus Integration located near to M4 Junction 34 assumes that a new railway station at this location would provide frequent rail service east towards Cardiff and west towards Swansea, with a large park and ride facility allowing for robust integration for passengers. It is anticipated that any such facility would provide an integrated bus service between the railway station and Cardiff Airport, as well as other regional employment centres.

Now, I can understand that such a new road would help road access between the M4 and Cardiff Airport. This would help avoid the overloaded Culverhouse Cross Interchange in west Cardiff as well as the often jammed M4 J33 - which the Welsh Government are determined to make even worse by allowing a Business Park and P&R for buses on the north side of the gyratory. (It really needs a flyover as traffic can not easily get on/off the M4/A4232 - that’s Welsh Government planners for you).

Now, Cardiff Airport have launched a consultation (closes 14 September, 2018) about their ‘Masterplan’. This involves building a new terminal. From a rail point of view, things could continue as we have at present - with a bus link from Rhoose station. However, it surely would be desirable to have a direct line into the new terminal area from the Vale of Glamorgan Line? If this were to be a spur in from near the east side of the Porthkerry viaduct, how would trains then be able to progress back to the present railway and head west? Perhaps a new line could loop around the eastern side of the runway? Alternatively, perhaps a cut and cover tunnel could go under the parking areas and then pass alongside the A4226 road to re-join the present line at Aberthaw? This would surely be the most desirable for those people who are making through train journeys such as Barry to Bridgend (& beyond) or Llantwit Major to Cardiff & beyond? I would suggest that land should be protected for either option.

For those interested in the Cardiff Airport Masterplan -
https://www.cardiff-airport.com/masterplan2040/

Here is a map of the area:>
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4090702,-3.3461736,7704m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1