Metro transformation work: changes to train services

How it will affect your journey plans between May 2023 and February 2024

While we build this better transport network over the next few years, it may mean temporary periods of change to your journey plans. Where possible we are scheduling the transformation work to take place during less busy times to minimise disruption and offering connections between rail services and bus services.

 

Metro transformation work: Rail replacement bus services

We’re always looking at improving customer experience and your honest feedback on the survey will help us shape our rail replacement services in the future.

  • Service changes | Cardiff Central - Radyr (City line / Coryton line) - Merthyr / Aberdare / Treherbert | Sunday - Thursday, from late evening onwards
    • Improvement work is taking place on the Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil and City / Coryton lines from Cardiff Central station northwards.

      The work will take place late evening and overnight Sundays through to Thursdays during this period, closing this part of the network from 20:00 to 05:00.

      Evening City line / Coryton line services - ticket acceptance has been agreed with Cardiff Bus from 21:00 visit cardiffbus.com.

      Mondays - Thursdays only

      Early morning train services will not be affected and will run as usual.

      Cardiff Central - Radyr (City line / Coryton line) - Merthyr / Aberdare / Treherbert

  • Service changes | Cardiff Central - Coryton | Mondays - Thursdays, from late evening onwards
    • Changes to sevices between Cardiff Central and Coryton

      Metro engineering work means that, from Mondays to Thursdays, the last train is now much earlier.

      2015 Coryton - Cardiff Central
      1951 Cardiff Central - Coryton

      For later services, ticket acceptance has been agreed with Cardiff Bus, visit cardiffbus.com.

      Cardiff Central - Coryton

  • Service changes | Cardiff Central - Rhymney | Mondays - Thursdays and Sundays, from late evening onwards
    • Mondays - Thursdays, from approximately  20:00 onwards; Sundays, from approximately  18:30 onwards.

      Cardiff Central - Rhymney

  • Service changes | Pontypridd - Treherbert | Saturday 29 April - February 2024
    • As we move forward with our progress of building the South Wales Metro, from 29th April 2023 to late January/early February 2024, we will be closing the train line from Pontypridd to Treherbert, to deliver our biggest programme of works to date.

      The Treherbert line has some of the oldest equipment and infrastructure across the entire Core Valley Lines, dating back to early 1930’s. During this eight-month closure, we have a significant amount of work to carry out in order to modernise this section of railway.

      For more information click here.

      Pontypridd - Treherbert

June

  • Update: Pontypridd - Merthyr | Saturday 3 June - Friday 9 June, all day
    • Following major work on the Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare lines, our delivery partners AIW are now finalising the critical safety authorisations needed for sign-off by the industry regulator, which will allow the lines to reopen.

    • This is taking longer than previously expected. We now anticipate the line between Abercynon and Merthyr Tydfil to reopen on Saturday 10 June (except Quakers Yard), while Mountain Ash to Aberdare will reopen as soon as possible w/c June 12.

    • We’d like to thank our customers for their continued patience through this and ask them to continue to check before they travel and to allow extra time for their journeys. Bus replacement services will continue to be in operation to help get our customers to and from their destinations. Ticket acceptance has also been agreed with Stagecoach for the below services:

      • T4 Merthyr - Cardiff

    • Pontypridd - Merthyr

  •  Update: Mountain Ash - Aberdare | Saturday 3 June - Reopening as soon as possible w/c 12 June
    • Following major work on the Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare lines, our delivery partners AIW are now finalising the critical safety authorisations needed for sign-off by the industry regulator, which will allow the lines to reopen.

    • This is taking longer than previously expected. We now anticipate the line between Abercynon and Merthyr Tydfil to reopen on Saturday 10 June (except Quakers Yard), while Mountain Ash to Aberdare will reopen as soon as possible w/c June 12.

    • We’d like to thank our customers for their continued patience through this and ask them to continue to check before they travel and to allow extra time for their journeys. Bus replacement services will continue to be in operation to help get our customers to and from their destinations. Ticket acceptance has also been agreed with Stagecoach for the below services:

      • 60/61 - Aberdare to Pontypridd

      • 120-130 - Treherbert - Pontypridd  

      • 132 - Pontypridd - Porth 

    • Mountain Ash - Aberdare
  • Cardiff Central - Radyr (City Line) | Monday 19 June, early morning
    • Cardiff Central - Radyr
  • Cardiff Central - Pontypridd | Monday 19 June, early morning
    • Cardiff Central - Pontypridd
  •  Radyr - Pontypridd | Saturday 24 June, until early afternoon
    • Radyr - Pontypridd
  • Pontypridd - Merthyr / Aberdare | Saturday 24 June - Wednesday 28 June, all day
    • Pontypridd - Merthyr / Aberdare

July

  • Cardiff Central - Coryton | Saturday 1 July, all day
    • Cardiff Central - Coryton
  • Cardiff Central - Rhymney | Saturday 1 July - Sunday 2 July, all day
    • Cardiff Central - Rhymney
  • Radyr - Pontypridd | Sunday 2 July, all day
    • Radyr - Pontypridd
  • Pontypridd - Merthyr / Aberdare | Sunday 2 July, all day
    • Pontypridd - Merthyr / Aberdare
  • Radyr - Pontypridd | Sunday 9 July, all day
    • Radyr - Pontypridd
  • Pontypridd - Merthyr / Aberdare | Sunday 9 July, all day
    • Pontypridd - Merthyr / Aberdare
  • Cardiff Central - Rhymney | Saturday 15 July - Sunday 16 July, all day
    • Cardiff Central - Rhymney
  • Cardiff Central - Coryton | Saturday 29 July, all day
    • Cardiff Central - Coryton
  • Cardiff Central - Rhymney | Saturday 29 July - Sunday 30 July, all day
    • Cardiff Central - Rhymney
  • Travel Advice FAQs
    • What work will be undertaken during this period?

      A whole package of works is planned including track and signalling work along with general maintenance.
      Find out all about Metro here.

       

      What will I expect when I arrive at the Radyr station inter-change hub?

      Radyr station will act as the main inter-change hub between rail and bus services. Customer service teams will be at hand at Radyr station to direct customers to and from the inter-change hub situated in the adjacent car park. Road transport has been arranged to link in with train services to keep wait times to a minimum. Toilet and shelter facilities will be available.

       

      Where will I be picked up or dropped off at my local station?

      Most bus service pick up / drop up points are situated outside the station. They will be clearly signposted but you can check out the location of your rail replacement bus stop here (choose your station then Car Park Information) or on the Useful Information Poster at your station.

       

      I usually take my bike on the train as I need it for onwards travel – can I take it on the bus service?

      Normally bikes are not permitted on rail replacement bus services however where possible bikes may be carried dependent on the driver’s discretion and space available. Any bikes carried on our bus services is at your own risk and Transport for Wales cannot accept responsibility for any damages.

       

      Can I take my dog on the bus service?

      Normally dogs are not permitted on rail replacement bus services except guide dogs.

       

      Can you take prams on the bus service?

      Prams are allowed however we ask that they are folded up before boarding.

       

      How much extra time will the bus service leg of my journey add to my overall journey?

      For the exact times you will need to check your specific journey plans but here’s a guide for some key journeys. These are based on average times for the time of night travelled.

      Route Approx bus service times
      Radyr - Pontypridd 00:35 hrs
      Radyr - Merthyr Tydfil 01:20hrs
      Radyr - Aberdare 01:20hrs
      Radyr – Treherbert 01:25 hrs

       

      Can I buy a ticket on the bus?

      There are no ticket purchasing facilities on board buses. Tickets must be bought before boarding a bus at your local booking office, ticket machines, on-line using our journey planner or from our app.

       

      I am a wheelchair user, can I access the rail replacement bus service?

      The buses are wheelchair accessible with low loading floors. For advice and to book assistance in advance call our Passenger Assist team 03330 050 501.

 

Future improvement work

For planned improvement works across our network that can affect the timetable please visit this page

Planned improvement work

 

Industial action

For industrial action that can affect the timetable please visit this page

Industrial action