Passengers will be able to take a train to Treherbert once again from February 2024.
The line will reopen following a major upgrade which has seen some of the oldest railway infrastructure in Wales being removed. In its place, Transport for Wales (TfW) and partners have installed a modern, brand-new signalling system.
Overhead line equipment is also in place ready for the line's electrification in the near future. Three new track loops have been installed, allowing for more frequent services, platforms have been extended and new footbridges have been added along the line.
The work forms part of the South Wales Metro project which will improve rail provision by delivering more frequent and greener services between Cardiff and the heads of the valleys.
The transformation of the Core Valley lines for the Metro has been part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, through the Welsh Government.
TfW drivers will begin training on the upgraded line as well as on the new Metro tram-trains from next month. Bus replacements will continue to run until rail services start again in February. Two trains per hour will be reintroduced on the Treherbert line with the new Metro trains expected to be running in the summer.
To mark the reopening and to thank customers and line side neighbours, TfW is to extend the Rhondda Railcard discount for three months following the February reopening.
With trains running from January, TfW is reminding people that no unauthorised personnel should trespass onto the railway line, as it is extremely dangerous and illegal.
Karl Gilmore, Rail Infrastructure Director said: “This is another key milestone as we continue to deliver the South Wales Metro project for the people of South Wales. We've upgraded a Victorian railway line to a modern, 21st century electrified line that will run brand-new tram-trains in the near future.
“I'd like to thank all our customers and railway neighbours for their support and patience during this time of transformation and wish them all a Merry Christmas. In 2024, people will really start to see the benefits from much of the work that has been carried out.”
The biggest bone of contention is the lack of toilets onboard. That will deter those who have medical issues from travelling by train. It should be the law for trains except for the London Underground,to have toilets onboard.
No trains running for an entire year and they still haven’t electrified it.
They originally promised quicker journeys, notice those claims have disappeared – and now the original 40 year old trains are about to return to the line.
Eventually, when the new stock finally arrives, they’ll have downgraded to trams, which is even more of a downgrade than the rail buses which have been the mainstay of the line for the past 40 years – with the occasional Sprinter thrown in.
As for claiming they’ve replaced the oldest parts of the infrastructure…. well it always worked, and worked well. The new stuff will be breaking down much more frequently.
And all this comes for a state owned entity.
As someone who worked on the track upgrades – how about be happy that something has been done about it all?
Limited running with the lack of double-track, a faulty (despite beautiful) Victorian token system that started to fail a fair bit prior to closure and upgrade…..
The line will be electrified. Just because TfW ar enot running electric trains up there yet, the overheads will be LIVE before reopening.
Can’t do anything without somebody being ungrateful.
What absolute rubbish. There were often problems at Porth and Ystrad Rhondda – delays and points failures, and issues with the dated token system. Once fully open, there will be 4 trains an hour from Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr – double what there is now. And you’ll never be more than 20 minutes from a toilet as the new Metro is a ‘turn up and go’ system.