What does the timetable change mean for me?

Treherbert services

Treherbert services will run as normal to and from Cardiff.

From 02 June, we’ll be introducing more frequent evening services to the Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr lines, with trains every 30 minutes from Cardiff until 20:30 instead of 19:30 today.

Aberdare services

Aberdare to Cardiff services will run as normal to Radyr but will then run to Cardiff Central via the City Line, stopping at Danescourt, Fairwater, Waun-Gron Park and Ninian Park. After arriving at Cardiff Central, the train will continue to Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays and Llandaf and onwards to Merthyr Tydfil.

Journeys to and from Cardiff Central will take the same time as currently. For passengers travelling to Llandaf, Cathays or Cardiff Queen Street, there are two options available:

1. Stay on the train after Cardiff Central, as it will continue onto Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, and Llandaf.
2. Change at Pontypridd station for a Cardiff-bound service which will depart approximately 5 minutes later. This service starts at Pontypridd and will travel into Cardiff via Llandaf, Cathays, Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay.

If changing at Pontypridd onto a Cardiff Bound service, journey times from Aberdare to Llandaf, Cathays and Cardiff Queen Street will take the same time as today. 

Cardiff to Aberdare services will also run via the City Line, travelling from Cardiff via Cathays, Cardiff Queen Street, Cardiff Central, Ninian Park, Waun-Gron Park, Fairwater, Danescourt, Radyr and onwards to Aberdare.

Aberdare services will no longer continue travelling to Barry or Barry Island. Those wishing to travel to these destinations will need to change at Cardiff Queen Street or Cardiff Central.

Merthyr Tydfil services

Merthyr Tydfil services will run as normal to Cardiff Central, via Llandaf, Cathays and Cardiff Queen Street. They will then continue to travel up the City Line to Radyr, continuing on to Aberdare.

Merthyr Tydfil services will no longer continue travelling to Bridgend and Barry Island. Those wishing to travel to these destinations will need to change at Cardiff Queen Street or Cardiff Central.

Services travelling from Aberdare

Aberdare to Cardiff services will run as normal to Radyr but will then run to Cardiff Central via the City Line, stopping at Danescourt, Fairwater, Waun-Gron Park and Ninian Park. After arriving at Cardiff Central, the train will continue to Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays and Llandaf and onwards to Merthyr Tydfil.

Journeys to and from Cardiff Central will take the same time as currently. For passengers travelling to Llandaf, Cathays or Cardiff Queen Street, there are two options available:

1. Stay on the train after Cardiff Central, as it will continue onto Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, and Llandaf.
2. Change at Pontypridd station for a Cardiff-bound service which will arrive approximately 5 minutes later. This service starts at Pontypridd and will travel into Cardiff via Llandaf, Cathays, Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay.

Services travelling from Merthyr 

Merthyr Tydfil services will run as normal to Cardiff Central, via Llandaf, Cathays and Cardiff Queen Street. They will then continue to travel up the City Line to Radyr, continuing on to Aberdare.

Aberdare and Merthyr services will no longer continue travelling to Bridgend, Barry or Barry Island. Those wishing to travel to these destinations will need to change at Cardiff Queen Street or Cardiff Central.

Pontypridd to Cardiff services

From 02 June, we’ll be Increasing the frequency of services between Pontypridd to Cardiff, from 6 trains per hour currently to 8 trains per hour, running between 07:00 and 19:00, Monday to Saturday. All 8 trains per hour will call at Trefforest Estate.

Included in the 8 trains per hour, there will be a new direct service between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay which will run every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday. This will run in addition to the Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay shuttle services.

As infrastructure works continue on the Cardiff Bay line, we will need to temporarily reduce the service from Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay from 5 trains per hour to 4 trains per hour.

Coryton and City Line services

Currently, Coryton line services travel to Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Central, then continue to travel along the City Line to Radyr.

From 02 June, Coryton line services will travel to Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Central however, will continue to Penarth and will not travel around to the City Line.

The City Line stations will be served by the Aberdare Line trains which will travel in and out of Cardiff via the City Line.

Those needing to travel between the Coryton and City Lines are advised to change at Cardiff Queen Street or Cardiff Central.

Rhymney line services

From 02 June, we’ll be Increasing the frequency of trains between Bargoed and Rhymney, from 1 train per hour currently, to 2 trains per hour Monday to Saturday with every other train running non-stop between Bargoed and Rhymney.

We’ll also be increasing the frequency of trains between Caerphilly and Cardiff, with trains every 10 minutes between 06:30 and 18:30 Monday to Saturday.

There will also be a more frequent evening service from Cardiff to Bargoed, with trains every 15 minutes until 19:00 instead of 18:00.

Rhymney and Bargoed services will travel to Cardiff Central and will continue to Barry Island, with Rhymney services also travelling onwards to Bridgend.

Caerphilly services will travel to Cardiff Central and then onwards to Penarth.

Penarth services

Currently, Rhymney and Bargoed services travel to Penarth.

From 02 June, Rhymney and Bargoed services will travel to Cardiff Central, and then onwards to Bridgend and Barry Island. Instead, Coryton and Caerphilly services will travel to Penarth.

Those travelling between Penarth and Rhymney/Bargoed can change at Caerphilly, Cardiff Queen Street or Cardiff Central station.

Barry Island and Bridgend services (Via Rhoose)

Currently, Aberdare services travel to Cardiff Central and then to Barry and Barry Island. Merthyr Tydfil services currently travel to Bridgend, Barry and Barry Island.

From 02 June, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil services will travel to Cardiff Central, but will not travel onwards to Bridgend, Barry or Barry Island.

Instead, Rhymney and Bargoed services will travel to Cardiff Central and then Bridgend and Barry Island.

Those travelling between Merthyr Tydfil/ Aberdare and Bridgend, Barry and Barry Island are advised to change at Cardiff Central.

As some journeys across the South-East Wales network will involve a change at Cardiff Queen Street or Cardiff Central, we advise passengers who are starting their journeys at these stations to check before you travel as train times, platforms and service routes will change from 02 June.