Transport for Wales has announced that it has reached another milestone as building work has begun on their new £100 million Metro Depot at Taff's Well.
The new depot will include a maintenance facility to service and home brand-new Metro Vehicles. The control centre overseeing operations, including signalling and train movements, will also be based at the Taff's Well facility.
The South Wales Metro will improve connectivity throughout South Wales and provide access to jobs, leisure and other opportunities for the people in Wales.
The South Wales Metro project has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
The new depot will become the base for around 400 train crew, 35 train maintenance staff and 52 control centre staff.
What did the officials say?
The Minister for Economy and Transport, Ken Skates attended the event and said:
“This is yet another major development in Transport for Wales' plans to deliver the South Wales Metro for the people of South East Wales. At the start of this month we opened the Treforest Metro Infrastructure Hub, further up the valley, which will be the heart of transformation works and here today, we mark the start of the building of a new depot, from which the Metro will be operated.
“The South Wales Metro is an investment of three quarters of a billion pounds and this £100 million depot is a major part of that. It will act as a home for our brand-new Metro Vehicles, where servicing and maintenance will take place and the control centre will oversee running operations.
“Transport is being transformed in Wales and it's great to see more real examples of progress.”
James Price, Transport for Wales CEO added:
“The South Wales Metro will revolutionise transport for local communities bringing quicker journeys, greater capacity, more frequent and reliable services with the offer of more affordable public transport.
“The ground-breaking ceremony here today is a further indication that we are delivering on our promises. Within a few years, the South Wales Metro will be operated from this depot and there'll be approximately 500 staff working here.
“It's a really exciting time for transport in Wales and great that our customers and the people of Wales can start to see physical progress.”
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