We’re moving closer to delivering the South Wales Metro. Brand-new electric trains will enter service onto the Merthyr, Aberdare and Treherbert lines in the Autumn, and we're recently increased the frequency of trains between Pontypridd, Caerphilly, Rhymney and Cardiff following a major timetable change in June 2024.  

To deliver more benefits for our customers, we need to undertake significant engineering works this Autumn which will result in buses replacing trains on some Valley lines.

Details on the two major rail closures can be found below. Please note, line closures will continue across the coming months, including weekend and mid-week evening closures on the Coryton and Rhymney lines. A full list all upcoming rail closures affecting the Valley lines can be found here.

 

Engineering works between Treherbert / Merthyr Tydfil / Aberdare and Radyr

Saturday 28 September to Sunday 06 October

To enable us to increase the number of services travelling from Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert to Cardiff, we need to undertake essential works through Pontypridd station and at other key locations across these lines.

To deliver these upgrades, engineering works will take place between Radyr and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil from Saturday 28 September to Sunday 6 October, all day.

These works will mean that no trains will run from Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare or Treherbert to Radyr for 9 days, rather than 23 days as previously communicated.

Treherbert/Aberdare/Merthyr - Radyr closure map

The lines highlighted in red will be closed from Saturday 28 September to Sunday 06 October. During this time, buses will replace trains.

 

Changes to train services

During this time, buses will replace trains between Treherbert/ Merthyr Tydfil/ Aberdare and Radyr.

All train services between Cardiff Central and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil will start and terminate at Radyr. Passengers travelling to Treherbert, Aberdare or Merthyr Tydfil can change at Radyr, where a regular bus replacement service will operate, stopping at all stations along these lines.

Four trains per hour will run between Cardiff Bay and Cardiff Queen Street on Saturdays and Weekdays only. On Sunday 29 September and Sunday 6 October, a shuttle train service will be in operation from Radyr to Cardiff Bay.

 

Rail Replacement Services  

During the closure, we’ll be running regular bus replacement services on the following routes, with buses every 30 minutes: 

  • Aberdare to Radyr
  • Merthyr Tydfil to Radyr
  • Treherbert to Radyr

Trains services to Cardiff will start and terminate at Radyr.

  • Rail replacement stops:

    • Radyr to Pontypridd, Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr

    • Please note there is a temporary rail replacement bus stop location for Trefforest Station. During the closure, the bus stop will be on Cardiff Road, near the pedestrian bridge.

    • Trefforest station

  • Rail replacement times:

    • Travelling to Radyr

      Treherbert to Radyr

      		 XX:20 XX:50

      Aberdare to Radyr

      		 XX:05 XX:35

      Merthyr to Radyr

      		 XX:15 XX:45
    •  

    • Travelling to Treherbert/Aberdare/Merthyr

      Radyr to Treherbert

      		 XX:00 XX:30

      Radyr to Aberdare

      		 XX:10 XX:40

      Radyr to Merthyr

      		 XX:20 XX:50

 

What engineering work will take place?

Our teams will work round the clock over the 9-day closure across the Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil and Treherbert lines to deliver essential engineering works. This work is key to achieving 4 trains per hour on these lines.  

Some of the works taking place during the 9-day closure include:

  • Track works across the network, including at Pontypridd station, Trefforest Estate station and along the Merthyr, Aberdare and lower Treherbert lines 
  • Work on the overhead wires through Abercynon station 
  • New buffer stops at Treherbert station 
  • Continued station works at Ynyswen on the Treherbert line to install a new access for all bridge and station platform 
  • Continued work at Fernhill station on the Aberdare line to install a new ramped footbridge  
  • The dismantling of the original Trefforest station stepped footbridge, which will be donated to a heritage railway 
  • Taff’s Well platform works to deliver level boarding from train to platform, ready for the introduction of the tram-trains  
  • Vegetation management and clean-up works across the network 
  • Drainage works across the network, including at Trehafod, Fernhill and Dinas Rhondda 
  • Maintenance work to strengthen a retaining wall in Troedyrhiw on the Merthyr line  
  • Signalling work near Quakers Yard on the Merthyr line and through Pontypridd station

 

FAQ

  • Where can I find the rail replacement bus timetable?

    • The timetables for the bus replacement services that will run from Merthyr Tydfil/ Aberdare/ Treherbert to Radyr can be found using our journey planner on our website or app.

    • Buses will run every 30 minutes from the top of each valley into Radyr, stopping at each station along the route.

    • An example of the rail replacement timetable can be found below:

    • Travelling to Radyr

      Treherbert to Radyr

      		 XX:20 XX:50

      Aberdare to Radyr

      		 XX:05 XX:35

      Merthyr to Radyr

      		 XX:15 XX:45
    •  

    • Travelling to Treherbert/Aberdare/Merthyr

      Radyr to Treherbert

      		 XX:00 XX:30

      Radyr to Aberdare

      		 XX:10 XX:40

      Radyr to Merthyr

      		 XX:20 XX:50
  • Will trains run from Radyr to Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Central? 

    • Yes. Trains will continue to run from Radyr into Cardiff via Llandaf and along the City Line (via Ninian Park).   

  • How many trains will run between Radyr and Cardiff Central during the closure?  

    • Trains will continue to run between Radyr and Cardiff Central during the closure. 

    • In total, 6 trains per hour will run between Radyr and Cardiff Central, with four running via Llandaf, Cathays and Cardiff Queen Street, and two via the City Line (Ninian Park).  

  • Will services to Cardiff Bay be affected by the closure?   

    • During the closure, we will continue to run four trains per hour between Cardiff Bay and Cardiff Queen Street on Saturdays and Weekdays.  

    • On Sunday 29 September and Sunday 6 October, a shuttle train service will be in operation from Radyr to Cardiff Bay which will run hourly. In addition to this, we will run two Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay shuttle services per hour.  

  • Will services to Penarth be affected by the closure?

    • On Monday 30 September and Tuesday 1 October, we are unable to run rail services from Cardiff Queen Street to Penarth. This is due to the number of additional rail services that will be running to Cardiff Central.

    • To ensure passengers can travel between Cardiff and Penarth, we’ll be running a rail replacement service every half an hour from Mondays to Friday, with ticket acceptance also in place on Cardiff Bus services. 

  • Can I park at Radyr station during the engineering works?

    • Due to the number of rail replacement buses that will be travelling to and from Radyr station, and to ensure a safe queuing operation for our customers, we will need to limit the number of parking spaces at Radyr.

    • During the 9-day closure, we’ll be using approximately 90 spaces for our bus operation. Parking facilities are available at nearby stations, including Llandaff and Taff’s Well, with a large park and ride facility at Abercynon.  

  • Why are you closing the lines for 9 days?  

    • Closing the Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert lines through to Radyr provides our infrastructure teams will full access to the railway to carry out significant engineering works. Throughout the closure, our teams will work around the clock to complete over 30 pieces of work, to not only prepare for increasing the frequency of services but to also ensure the long-term maintenance and safe running of the railway.  

    • A major piece of work will be to improve the line speed of several sections of track and the signalling at Pontypridd station. This work is essential to deliver an increase to 4 trains per hour from Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert into Cardiff as part of the Metro project.  

  • Will you be working at night during the 9-day closure?  

    • Due to the amount of work that is taking place across the network and to minimise the length of the closure, our teams will need to work during both the day and night to complete the work ready for rail services to resume on Monday 07 October.  

  • Will the work be noisy? 

    • Whilst our teams have endeavoured to carry out most of the disruptive work during the daytime, some work will need to be carried out during both the day and night. As a result, those living close to the railway may experience some noise due to the machinery used.  

    • However, if there is disruptive work planned to take place near your home at night, we’ll send you a letter in the coming weeks to provide you with more information.  

    • We're sorry for any disruption this may cause you and thank you for your patience and understanding as we carry out this essential work.

 

Engineering works at Cardiff Queen Street station

Sunday 27 October to Sunday 03 November

As part of the South Wales Metro transformation, we’re upgrading the railway at Cardiff Queen Street, a busy gateway into our capital city.

As we deliver metro and increase the number of services travelling into Cardiff from the top of each valley to 4 trains per hour, we need to upgrade the track and signalling at Cardiff Queen Street in preparation for more trains to run through the station.

To undertake these essential upgrades, Cardiff Queen Street Station will be closed, with no rail services stopping at or travelling through the station from Sunday 27 October to to Sunday 03 November, all day.

As this is a major junction for our Valleys, City and Cardiff Bay services, its temporary closure means several services that would normally run through Cardiff Queen Street are affected, and we advise all passengers to check before you travel as there will be replacement buses in operation or ticket acceptance with bus operators.

During the closure, no rail services will run on the Coryton or Rhymney line, with ticket acceptance in place with Cardiff Bus for routes along the Coryton line and a full rail replacement bus service operating along the Rhymney line.

The ticket office at Cardiff Queen Street station will remain open throughout the closure to allow passengers to purchase tickets and find information on services.

Cardiff Queen Street closure map

 

Changes to train service

  • Rhymney line services

    • During the Cardiff Queen Street station closure, from Sunday 27 October to  Sunday 3 November, buses will replace trains between Rhymney, Bargoed, Caerphilly and Cardiff Central.

    • Buses will run every 15 minutes during daytime, alternating between Rhymney and Bargoed.

    • Services from Barry Island and Bridgend via Rhoose to Rhymney, Bargoed and Caerphilly will terminate and start at Cardiff Central from Sunday 27 October to Sunday 3 November.

    • From Saturday 2 to Sunday 3 November, trains will run on the Rhymney line and will terminate at Heath High Level. A rail replacement service will operate from Caerphilly to Cardiff Central, running every 15 minutes and stopping at each station along the route. 

  • Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr services

    • Trains from Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil will travel to Cardiff Central via the City Line (via Ninian Park), and will not stop at Llandaf, Cathays and Cardiff Queen Street.

    • Please note: services between Cardiff Central and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr will arrive and depart from Cardiff Central at different times to usual. 

  • Pontypridd to Cardiff services

    • Daytime services between Pontypridd and Cardiff Central will decrease to 3 per hour on Sunday and 6 per hour from Monday to Saturday. The additional half-hourly service from Pontypridd to Cardiff Bay will not run.

    • Rail services will not run from Radyr to Cardiff Queen Street via Llandaff or Cathays. Those needing to travel to Llandaff, Cathays or Cardiff Queen Street can change at Radyr where a regular bus replacement service will be in operation between Radyr and Cardiff Central, stopping at these stations.

  • Cardiff Bay line services

    • During the closure, we will not be able to operate the Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay rail service.

    • Ticket acceptance will be in place with Cardiff Bus on its Cardiff Bus Baycar number 6 service. Please check your journey on cardiffbus.com.

    • We will be operating a partial bus replacement service between Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay during the following hours:

      • Sunday 27 October, 20:15 - 23:00

      • Monday 28, Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30, and Thursday 31 October, and Friday 1 November: 06:30 - 09:15 and 21:15 - 00:00

  • City Line services

    • City Line stations (Ninian Park, Waun-gron Park, Fairwater and Danescourt) will continue to be served by trains with frequency levels unchanged compared to the regular timetable.

  • Coryton line services

    • During the closure, no rail services will run on the Coryton line - Coryton, Rhiwbina, Birchgrove, Ty Glas, Heath Low Level. Ticket acceptance will be in place with Cardiff Bus between Cardiff City Centre and Coryton.

  • Cardiff to Barry Island and Bridgend (via Rhoose)

    • As buses will replace trains between Rhymney and Cardiff Central, Barry Island and Bridgend services travelling via Rhoose will start and terminate at Cardiff Central.

    • Please note: Barry Island and Bridgend services will be further affected on Sunday 27 October due to separate engineering work between Cardiff Central and Bridgend via Pontyclun, operating at reduced and altered frequencies to accommodate diverted trains.

  • Penarth line services

    • During this period, we are unable to run rail services from Cardiff Queen Street to Penarth. This is due to the number of additional rail services that will be running to Cardiff Central.

    • To ensure passengers can travel between Cardiff and Penarth, we’ll be running a rail replacement service every half an hour from Mondays to Friday, with ticket acceptance also in place on Cardiff Bus services.

    • On Saturday 2 November, we’ll continue to run our bus replacement every 30 minutes, however ticket acceptance with Cardiff Bus will not be in place.