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Key valleys line closed for 16 days as infrastructure installed for South Wales Metro electric trains

29 Aug 2021 2 minute read
Picture by Transport for Wales

A key valleys line has closed for 16 days in order to install infrastructure that will allow for the running of new electric train-trams as part of the South Wales Metro.

Aberdare and Pontypridd will close from Saturday the 28th of August to Sunday, the 12th of September 2021 to allow for the safety of the engineering teams in the latest stage of the three-quarters of a billion pound transformation of valleys lines.

Transport for Wales said that the project will include complex work such as repositioning signals, installing and testing equipment, devegetation, realigning track, along with installation of foundations for overhead line equipment.

They said that the time scale needed to achieve this stage of the project will mean that work will be underway 24 hours a day and due to the large number of people and plant machinery involved meant the only way to allow the operation to go ahead safely was by closing the line. 

Rail replacement buses will be in operation between Aberdare and Pontypridd during the 16 day closure.

‘Faster’

The new electric train trams will be powered by the newly installed overhead lines which will give faster journeys with reduced travel time between Aberdare and Cardiff city centre.

Karl Gilmore, TfW’s Rail Infrastructure Director, said: “We have a significant amount of work to carry out to create the South Wales Metro. This includes the biggest upgrade to the ageing Core Valley Lines infrastructure to this scale since it was first built, so that we can deliver the faster, more frequent and greener services the people of the south Wales valleys deserve.”

More information about Metro is available on the Transport for Wales website, including a blog article answering some frequently asked questions about the Metro transformation work.

Travel updates can be found on the TfW Rail website.


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Dai Rob
Dai Rob
2 years ago

Should be renamed the South EAST Wales Metro! :/

Llewelyn
Llewelyn
2 years ago
Reply to  Dai Rob

Like the National assembly for Cardiff!!

Llewelyn
Llewelyn
2 years ago

When will North wales get electrification? Never, as its not a labour stronghold.

Mathew Rees
Mathew Rees
2 years ago
Reply to  Llewelyn

North Wales line is more likely to be electrified than to Swansea in the south.

North Wales also has incredibly efficient cross-county bus services compared to west Wales.

Llewelyn
Llewelyn
2 years ago
Reply to  Mathew Rees

The North West line should have been electrified in the 60s when they did the WCML. It is after all a branch of it . I do agree Swansea should be electrified.

Neil
Neil
2 years ago

It’s a joke I live in Aberdare and yes there are bus replacements but the cowboys that are doing the work are stood around talking playing on their phones with little work being done it’s a joke for the rich to do naff all

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