Transport for Wales (TfW) has now electrified the railway lines from Aberdare to Pontypridd and Merthyr Tydfil to Abercynon.
This means that TfW has now connected over sixty thousand metres of Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) across the whole South Wales Metro rail network.
The work is essential to the development of the South Wales Metro, which will provide more rail services and easier travel in the region.
TfW is testing new Citylink Class 398 tram-trains on Metro routes, and has nearly completed the £100 million Metro Depot at Taff's Well, a semi-rural village at the south eastern tip of Rhondda Cynon Taf, six miles (9.7 km) to the north of Cardiff.
The European Regional Development Fund paid for part of the transformation of the Core Valley Lines for the Metro through the Welsh Government. The lines will carry faster, more frequent services between Cardiff and the heads of the valleys.
TfW continues to urge the public to be aware of the safety risks associated with trespassing on the railway, which is illegal and carries a high risk of serious burns and ultimately death. It is asking people who witness suspicious behaviour on the tracks to contact the British Transport Police (call 0800 40 50 40 / text 61016 / emergency call 999) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Karl Gilmore Rail Infrastructure Director at TfW said: “This is yet another key milestone in the transformation work of our core valley lines as we continue to progress in delivering the South Wales Metro.
“It's really exciting to see more railway lines electrified in South Wales and through delivering the Metro we'll be providing people with a more sustainable option of travel.
“Taff's Well depot is the home of our new tram trains and it's fantastic to see these light rail vehicles out on test which will soon be in passenger service.”
Alasdair MacDonald, Regional Director for Balfour Beatty, said: “We are proud to have successfully delivered this critical part of the Core Valley Lines transformation programme.
“Delivering this important upgrade will not only provide more reliable rail services, but also a greener and more sustainable way to travel for thousands of people.”
It’s all BS. No new train units are in operation on the Valley Lines. We have cancelled services and severe overcrowding on the decrepit units that do run. But they have lots and lots of ticket inspectors when you get home in the evening.
They are transported to the station by van
Nuff said
I cannot believe that TFW aren’t electrifying the penarth or vale lines to Barry island and Bridgend , the railway has just bought diesel sets for these parts going against their own environmental policy of pumping more pollution into the atmosphere , also why isn’t there plans to bring the metro system off the porthkerry viaduct into cardiff wales airport , at the moment the infrastructure is a joke when you pull up on the train at Rhoose where there’s a row of terraced houses , but on the station sign it says Cardiff international airport , no other country would have this ridiculous situation , no wonder the airport loses money , plus Drakeford scrapped the road from junction 34 to sycamore cross , the infrastructure is third world
Barry island and Bridgend are on NR infrastructure and TfW cannot process the electrification there.
What’s the point,tfw don’t have the decency to reply to emails you send them
Wish that the government would allow electrification to continue from Cardiff Central to Swansea.
That is a UK central government responsibility which they promised to fund but reneged on.
Can’t run what they’ve got.
Just when the UK government is pushing EVs which put more loading on our electricity network, electricity is more expensive & threats of blackouts this winter? What an inspired choice!
Any possible chance that TfW could eventually get round to electrifying the North Wales coast line? Or the Borderline link from Wrexham to Bidston?
TfW did publish some info graphics showing that would be electrified as a “long-term”project. However they want to increase frequency of services on it by 2029. So possibly starting from then it gets electrified.
They don’t have the power to electrify those routes, it’s down to the UK government/ DfT