Faster and more frequent train journeys planned

FURTHER details of the £5bn transformation of rail services in Wales have revealed how journey times on the Valley Lines network could be slashed under the new franchise.

Yesterday, we reported on KeolisAmey’s ambitious plans to build five new railway stations and improve services and rolling stock, after winning the next 15-year Wales & Borders rail franchise.

And now it has emerged that journey times and service frequencies on the South Wales network could significantly improve under the plans.

By 2022 four tram-trains an hour from the periphery of the network into the capital will be operational from places like Merthyr, Treherbert and Aberdare (compared to only two currently).

Journey times will be reduced from Treherbert and Aberdare to Queen Street from the current 57 minutes to 46 minutes, and 43 minutes respectively; from Merthyr to Queen Street it will be reduced from 56 to 44 minutes.

From 2023 there will also be two services an hour from Merthyr to Cardiff Bay, and from Pontypridd there will be 12 services an hour, underpinning the “turn-up-and-go” nature of the new network.

By contrast, the dedicated Coryton line for Cardiff will not see an increase in services, which will remain at the existing two per hour.

But the Welsh Government said it is exploring extending the Coryton Line to the planned new Velindre Hospital, which would increase services on the route to four services an hour.

That is not a requirement of KeolisAmey – but, having won the procurement, there is nothing stopping Transport for Wales and the Welsh Government over the next few months looking to see where things can be further enhanced, ahead of work starting on the South Wales Metro project.

By December 2023 KeolisAmey will be running an extra 285 services every weekday across Wales, with improvements on the Ebbw Vale line, North Wales Metro (WrexhamBidston), Cambrian and Heart of Wales lines.

There will be an extra 294 services across Wales on Sundays, an increase of 61%, creating what has been described as a “true seven-day service” for the first time.

The link from Penarth, Barry and Bridgend to destinations north of Cardiff Central, via the Rhymney Line, will be serviced using new trimode trains – which will be able to run in diesel, electric or battery mode.

For services from Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr into Cardiff Central and Cardiff Bay, 36 tramtrains, which will operate in battery mode on sections of the lines not electrified, are being commissioned.

They will not have toilets. However, a requirement of the procurement process, overseen by Transport for Wales, was for a significant investment in toilet facilities on stations.

This will mean wherever on the tram-train network, passengers will be no more than 14 minutes away from a toilet.

Tram-trains from Ninian Park up through Cardiff Central to Queen Street, will operate in battery mode.

For around 300 metres in Cardiff Bay they will switch to “on street” to reach the last station at the Wales Millennium Centre.

As previously reported, new Cardiff stations are planned at Gabalfa, Crwys Road, Loudoun Square and the Flourish next to Wales Millennium Centre.

And it will also see the creation of 600 new jobs.

David Sidebottom, passenger director at rail watchdog Transport Focus, welcomed the new franchise, saying: “Passengers in Wales tell us that their priorities are reliable services on which they can get a seat and are good value for money.

“It is essential that the new franchise puts passengers’ interests at the heart, so it’s good to see the confirmation of new trains, additional services and increased capacity.”