R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

Route characteristics
DESCRIPTION The northern sections of the Valley routes are single track, with
double track south of Porth, Abercynon and Bargoed. The Bay branch, the
Coryton branch, Cogan Junction–Penarth and Barry Junction–Barry Island are also
single track. Linespeeds are generally 40–55mph, with sections of 70mph
Route vision
The Cardiff Valleys rail network is a key component of the public transport
network of Southeast Wales. Our vision is to maintain and enhance this position
through capacity and journey-time improvements, developed in partnership with
South Wales Integrated Fast Transit (SWIFT), and to meet the expectations of
customers for a reliable service.
The Cardiff Valleys Route is primarily a commuter network. There is strong
interest from local authorities and the Cardiff Railway Company in providing
greater capacity and better journey times to offer an attractive alternative to
road, particular ly in the congested A470 corridor between Pontypridd and
Cardiff. Location of the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff Bay has added
further impetus to creating better public transport links in this area.
£16M has recently been spent on resignalling and remodelling in the Taff
Vale between Radyr, Pontypridd and Porth in partnership with local authorities
to give greater capacity and increases in linespeed.
at the southern end of the Valleys. Bridgend to Maesteg is single track with
linespeeds 30–50mph.
The route is operating near capacity between Cardiff Queen Street and
Cardiff Central.
In conjunction with our partners, we are already developing proposals to achieve
our vision. They range from the possibility of introducing a new passenger service
on the Vale of Glamorgan line, with new stations at Rhoose and Llantwit Major,
to major renewals and remodelling of track and signalling to improve reliability,
linespeed and capacity in the Rhymney Valley and the northern end of the Taff
Vale. We are improving station and car-park security, and extending park-and-ride
facilities to promote greater use of rail.
Freight tra f fic has grown over the last 12 months, with terminals opening at
R hymney for steel and at Cwmbargoed for aggregates and MOD, and coal serv i c e s
h ave increased from Tower Colliery north of Aberdare. We will accommodate this
t ra f fic and future growth in proposals we develop for the route.
Wo rking in part n e rship with SWIFT, our goals for the route are: to increase
c a p a c i t y, to improve reliability and journey times, to wo rk with our part n e rs to
a t t ract more customers to rail, to provide effe c t i ve public tra n s p o rt access to
Cardiff Bay, and to develop a passenger service on the Vale of Glamorgan route.
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