Cardiff City Line

Last updated

Cardiff City Line
Class142 Danescourt Up3.jpg
A Class 142 train approaches Danescourt
en route to Coryton
Overview
Owner Network Rail and Transport for Wales [1]
Locale Cardiff
Termini
Stations4
Service
TypeSuburban rail
System National Rail
Operator(s) Transport for Wales Rail
Rolling stock
History
Opened1987
Technical
Line length4  miles 66  chains (7.8 km) [2]
Number of tracks double track throughout
Track gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification 25 kV 50 hz AC OLE (Discontinuous)
Route map
Cardiff City Line.png
(Click to expand)
Legend
BSicon CONTg.svg
Merthyr and Rhondda lines
to Pontypridd
BSicon BHF.svg
 Radyr
BSicon ABZgl.svg
BSicon dCONTfq.svg
Merthyr and Rhondda Lines
to Cardiff Central
BSicon HST.svg
 Danescourt
BSicon HST.svg
 Fairwater
BSicon HST.svg
 Waun-gron Park
BSicon HST.svg
 Ninian Park
BSicon dCONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr+r.svg
Vale of Glamorgan Line
BSicon BHF.svg
 Cardiff Central
BSicon BHF.svg
 Cardiff Queen Street
BSicon CONTf.svg
other Valley Lines

The Cardiff City Line is a suburban rail line in Cardiff that runs between Radyr and Cardiff Central via Fairwater.

Contents

History

The line was opened by the Taff Vale Railway in 1859, as part of its route from Radyr to the docks at Penarth. [3] Subsequent construction by the TVR added links to Cardiff Central and to the Penarth Extension Railway by 1878. Originally the line was freight-only, but over the years saw regular use for empty passenger trains thanks to its links with the depot at Cardiff Canton TMD and also for football specials to Ninian Park stadium and periodic engineering diversions. [4]

The first regular passenger service was introduced to the line on 5 October 1987, when three new stations were opened at Waun-gron Park, Fairwater and Danescourt, and regular service was introduced to the previously existing Ninian Park station. The new service was introduced by British Rail in co-operation with the Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan County Councils. [5]

Services

There are currently trains every half hour which drop to every hour in the evenings on Mondays-Saturdays. These services are now loop services from June 2024 with Merthyr to Aberdare trains travelling via Llandaf and Cardiff Queen St then after Cardiff Central travel via Ninian Park to Radyr and onto Aberdare. June 2024 also saw the introduction of a hourly Sunday service with Aberdare services starting at Cardiff Central.

Pre June 2024 city line services ran from Radyr to Coryton but these have been replaced by a Coryton to Penarth service.

Transport for Wales currently operates the line as part of the former Valley Lines network. TfW succeeded the previous franchisee Arriva Trains Wales in October 2018. Some freight services also use the line.

The line is also used as a diversionary route for trains serving Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert when the line between Cardiff Queen Street and Radyr is closed for engineering work. In the past there were shuttle trains on the line to serve Pontypridd and beyond with one stop at Ninian Park.

Trains

TfW operates the line with diesel multiple units of Sprinter classes 150 and 153.

Electrification

On 16 July 2012 the Department for Transport announced plans to electrify the line. This will require new electric multiple unit trains and should reduce journey times, operating costs and maintenance costs. Work was expected to start between 2014 and 2019, but was pushed back to between 2019 and 2024. [6]

The announcement was made as an extension of the electrification of the South Wales Main Line from Cardiff Central to Swansea and the electrification of the south Wales Valley Lines at a total cost of £350 million. [7] This in turn is part of a £9.4 billion investment in railways in England and Wales. [8]

However, these plans have since been replaced by Welsh Government's South Wales Metro. This line has been partially taken over, [9] and is now being electrified. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes is the urban and suburban rail network radiating from Cardiff, Wales. It includes lines within the city itself, the Vale of Glamorgan and the South Wales Valleys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiff Queen Street railway station</span> Railway station in Cardiff, Wales

Cardiff Queen Street railway station is a railway station serving the north and east of Central Cardiff, Wales. It is the fourth busiest railway station in Wales. It is located near the major thoroughfare of Queen Street and is one of 20 stations in the city. Along with Cardiff Central, it is one of the two major hubs of the Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes local rail network. The station and its services are run by Transport for Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merthyr line</span> Commuter railway line in South Wales

The Merthyr line is a suburban rail line in South Wales; it connects Cardiff Central with Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. The line is part of the Cardiff suburban rail network, known as the Valley Lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhondda line</span> Commuter railway line in South Wales

The Rhondda line, also known as the Treherbert line, is a commuter railway line in South Wales from Cardiff to Treherbert. The line follows the Merthyr line as far as Pontypridd, where it then diverges to continue along the Rhondda Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coryton Line</span> Urban rail line in Cardiff, Wales

The Coryton Line is an urban rail line in Cardiff that starts from the city centre to Heath, Birchgrove, Rhiwbina, Whitchurch and Coryton. It was originally opened as part of the main line of the Cardiff Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butetown branch line</span> Urban rail line in Cardiff, Wales

The Butetown branch line, also known as the Cardiff Bay Line, is a 1-mile-6-chain (1.7 km) urban rail line in Cardiff, Wales that starts from Cardiff Bay to Cardiff Queen Street. The service pattern formerly comprised a mixture of shuttle services along the branch, service used to run to Coryton, Rhymney, Merthyr Tydfil, and Aberdare, but after December 2005 was a shuttle service from Queen Street station. However, in May 2024, direct trains to Pontypridd were restored alongside shuttle services. The normal journey time is four minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhymney line</span> Commuter rail line in Wales

The Rhymney line is a commuter rail line running from Cardiff Central through the Rhymney valley via Heath and Llanishen in the north of the city, to Caerphilly, Bargoed and Rhymney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vale of Glamorgan Line</span> Commuter rail line in Wales

The Vale of Glamorgan Line is a commuter railway line in Wales, running through the Vale of Glamorgan from Barry to Bridgend, via Rhoose and Llantwit Major.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Docks railway station</span> Railway station in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales

Barry Docks Railway Station is one of three railway stations serving the town of Barry, South Wales. Rail passenger services are operated by Transport for Wales as part of the Valley Lines network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radyr railway station</span> Railway station in Cardiff, Wales

Radyr railway station is a railway station serving the Radyr area of Cardiff, South Wales. It is at the foot of the hill at the eastern edge of the village, alongside the River Taff and adjacent to the Taff Trail. The station is on the Merthyr Line, and is also the northern terminus of the City Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danescourt railway station</span> Railway station in Cardiff, Wales

Danescourt railway station is a railway station serving the Danescourt suburb of Cardiff, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ninian Park railway station</span> Railway station in Cardiff, Wales

Ninian Park railway station serves the Leckwith and South Canton areas of Cardiff, just outside Cardiff city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waun-gron Park railway station</span> Railway station in Cardiff, Wales

Waun-gron Park railway station serves the Fairwater area of Cardiff, Wales. Passenger services are currently operated by Transport for Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairwater railway station</span> Railway station in Cardiff, Wales

Fairwater railway station is a railway station serving the Fairwater area of Cardiff, Wales. Passenger services are currently operated by Transport for Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taffs Well railway station</span> Railway station in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales

Taffs Well railway station is a railway station serving the village of Taff's Well, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, as well as neighbouring Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff. It is located on the Merthyr Line and the Rhondda Line. Passenger services are provided by Transport for Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valley Lines (train operating company)</span> Train operating company in Wales, United Kingdom

Valley Lines was the trading name of the Cardiff Railway Company, a train operating company owned by Prism Rail and later National Express, that ran local services around Cardiff from October 1996 until October 2001.

Rail transport in Cardiff has developed to provide connections to many other major cities in the United Kingdom, and to provide an urban rail network for the city and its commuter towns in southeast Wales. Today, there are three train operating companies in Cardiff: Great Western Railway, CrossCountry and Transport for Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Wales Metro</span> Public transport network in south-east Wales

The South Wales Metro is an integrated heavy rail, light rail and bus-based public transport services and systems network currently being developed in South East Wales around the hub of Cardiff Central railway station. The first phase was approved for development in October 2013. Works are currently under way, with a new depot under construction at Taff's Well and new trains being built by Stadler Rail in Switzerland. The development will also include the electrification of the core Valley Lines and new stations. All nine lines will be electrified, and the service was expected to be in operation by the end of 2024.

References

  1. ↑ "Impact of Core Valley Lines divestment on the Wales & Western region" (PDF). orr.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  2. ↑ Yonge, John; Padgett, David (August 2010) [1989]. Bridge, Mike (ed.). Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western (5th ed.). Bradford on Avon: Trackmaps. maps 22 & 28B. ISBN   978-0-9549866-6-7.
  3. ↑ Grace's Guide – Penarth Dock & Harbour Railway www.gracesguide.co.uk; Retrieved 12 September 2013
  4. ↑ Wales Rail – Cardiff City Line www.walesrail.co.uk; Retrieved 12 September 2013
  5. ↑ Walters, Laurence (1995). Railways of Cardiff. Ian Allan Ltd. p. 80. ISBN   0-7110-2380-8.
  6. ↑ "Cardiff And Valleys Station Upgrades". Network Rail. 16 May 2018. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  7. ↑ "Rail electrification to Swansea and south Wales valleys welcomed". BBC Online. 16 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "£9bn railway investment announced by coalition". BBC Online. 16 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "Impact of Core Valley Lines divestment on the Wales & Western region" (PDF). orr.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "Core Valley Lines Transformation | Transport for Wales". tfw.wales. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
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