Gorsaf Llanishen | Llanishen station

We've been working hard to upgrade the Coryton and lower Rhymney lines as part of the South Wales Metro project to enhance rail services for our passengers. Following the successful electrification of these lines, we’re excited to introduce brand-new trains on the Coryton and Caerphilly to Penarth lines starting in July 2025.

In April 2025, we began testing our new Class 756 trains on the Coryton line to prepare them for passenger service. Their introduction will deliver several benefits for customers, including increased onboard capacity, improved comfort, and better access from the train to the platform.

 

Temporary closure of Ty Glas Station and level crossing

To accommodate these new longer 3-car trains, we’ll be carrying out significant upgrades at Ty Glas station.

As part of these upgrades, we’ll be extending the station platform by 16 meters. To ensure the safety of our passengers whilst we deliver these upgrades, we will need to temporarily close Ty Glas station.

Whilst the station is closed, our maintenance teams will also carry out essential safety upgrades to the Ty Glas level crossing. This will include the replacement of the level crossing floor and the creation of a new chicane pathway from the station platform to the crossing, ensuring that all users look both ways before crossing.

We understand that this crossing is well used by the community, however, safety is our top priority, and we must carry out these upgrades in line with the introduction of the much quieter and faster electric trains.

 

When will the station and level crossing be closed?

Ty Glas station and its level crossing will be closed from Saturday 19 July 2025, coinciding with the beginning of the school summer holidays.

Construction of the new platform extension is expected to take approximately 10 months, with Ty Glas station reopening in Spring 2026. From the 19 July to Spring 2026, no rail services will stop at Ty Glas station.

Passengers who currently use Ty Glas station will be redirected to Birchgrove station, located 0.4 miles away (approximately an 8-minute walk), where rail services will run as normal.

The level crossing will reopen following the completion of the necessary safety upgrades, which we aim to complete as soon as possible.

 

 

How can I cross the railway safely whilst the crossing is closed?

To cross the railway safely, pedestrians and cyclists will be directed to use the Caerphilly Road bridge, which is approximately 0.3 miles (about 7 minutes) from Ty Glas station. The walking diversion route in shown in red below:

 

FAQs

Will you be reopening the level crossing before the station?

We understand that this crossing is well used by the local community, and we are committed to reopening it as soon as possible.

We expect to complete installing the new safety features by the end of the summer holidays. After that, we will need to go through a regulatory approvals process before the crossing can reopen. Once the upgrades are complete and we begin this approvals process, we'll be able to provide a more accurate estimate of when the crossing can be reopened.

Will trains run as normal from Birchgrove station?

Yes, trains will run as normal at Birchgrove, with train times not affected.

Will trains stop at Ty Glas during the station closure?

No, rail services won’t stop at Ty Glas during the station closure. They’ll run through the station, stopping at Birchgrove and Heath Low Level as normal.

Will train times at Birchgrove and Heath Low Level change whilst Ty Glas station is closed?

No, the rail timetable will not change. Trains will continue to depart Birchgrove at XX:17 and XX:47, and XX:21 and XX:51 from Heath Low Level for services travelling to Cardiff.

How many Class 756 (new trains) will be introduced onto the Coryton and Caerphilly lines?

5 brand-new Class 756 trains will be introduced onto the Coryton and Caerphilly lines, travelling to Penarth. The first of these trains will be introduced on Saturday 19 July, with a phased introduction of the remaining 4 taking place over the summer.

Is the level crossing a Public Right of Way?

No, the crossing is not a Public Right of Way and is not an adopted footpath. The crossing is owned by Transport for Wales and its purpose is to provide access onto the Ty Glas station platform.

When will the level crossing be reopened?

The upgrade of the level crossing is a separate project from the extension of the Ty Glas station platform. Our team working on the level crossing will aim to complete the necessary safety upgrades as quickly as possible. We aim to reopen the crossing before the station reopens in Spring 2026.

Are there any local bus services that I can use to get in and out of Cardiff whilst Ty Glas station is closed?

Yes, Cardiff Bus operate a number of services along this route, including:

  • 86 (City Centre to Lisvane)
  • 27 (City Centre to Llanishen and Thornhill)
  • 21/23 (City Centre to Rhiwbina, Whitchurch and Pantmawr).
How are we communicating the station and level crossing closure to local schools?

We understand that both the station and level crossing are well used by pupils to get to local schools. Our top priority is ensuring that young people know how to use the railway safely.

Our educational partners Bollo will be reaching out to local schools to offer safety talks on how to use the railway safely, made even more important due to the recent electrification of the Coryton line.

Throughout the summer, we’ll also be holding pop-up events to educate communities on the increased risks of trespassing on the railway now that over 70% of the South Wales Valley lines are now electrified. More information on our No Second Chances safety campaign can be found here.

Will the majority of construction work to extend the station platform take place during the day?

Yes, as the station is closed, our teams will have full access to the station to complete the platform extension. Due to this, we expect the majority of work to be completed during the day. However, when we need to work at night, we’ll write to our lineside neighbours to make them aware.

 

More information

We’d like to remind everyone that attempting to access the station and level crossing whilst it is closed is extremely dangerous, especially as trains will not stop when passing Ty Glas station and our teams will be using heavy machinery to deliver these upgrades.

Anyone trespassing on the railway is at risk of serious injury and/or death. If you see anyone on the railway who you believe is not supposed to be there, please call 999 as soon as you can.

For non - emergencies, please text the British Transport Police on 61016.

You can read more about OLE here.

More information on our No Second Chances safety campaign can be found here.