How the Metro transformation works will affect your journey plans between September and October 2024

Metro is being purpose built for Wales’ future. It will be a modern, efficient and sustainable way to travel but there may be temporary periods of change to your journey plans while be build it. Where possible we’re scheduling the transformation work to take place during less busy times to minimise disruption. We’re offering connections between rail services and bus services.

 

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 - 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.

      20:15 Coryton - Cardiff Central
      19:51 Cardiff Central - Coryton

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

      Cardiff Queen Street - 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

September

  • Radyr to Pontypridd, Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr | Saturday 28 September to Sunday 6 October, all day

    • These works will close the line for nine days, rather than 23 days as previously communicated.

    • Engineering works will take place between Radyr and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil from Saturday 28 September to Sunday 6 October, all day.

    • All train services between Cardiff Central and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil will start and terminate at Radyr.

    • Those needing to travel onwards to Treherbert, Aberdare or Merthyr Tydfil can change at Radyr where a regular bus replacement service will be in operation stopping at the stations along these lines. 

    • A shuttle train service of 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.

    • Radyr to Pontypridd, Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr

  • Vale of Glamorgan line | Sunday 29 September until 12:25

    • Engineering works between Cardiff Central and Penarth, Barry Island, and Bridgend will close the Vale of Glamorgan line on Sunday 29 September until 12:25.

    • During this time, services between Cardiff Central and Penarth/Barry Island and Bridgend will be replaced with buses.

    • Vale of Glamorgan line

October

  • Radyr to Cardiff Queen Street via Llandaf | Monday 7 October - Tuesday 8 October, all day

    • From Monday 7 October to Tuesday 8 October, train services from Cardiff Central to Pontypridd will be diverted via the City Line.

    • 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. Buses will replace trains for passengers travelling between Radyr and Cardiff Central via Llandaf, Cathays and Cardiff Queen Street.

    • Cardiff Queen Street - Radyr

  • Cardiff to Rhymney and Coryton | Saturday 12 October - Sunday 13 October, all day

    • Engineering works on the Rhymney and Coryton lines will close the line to trains on Saturday 12 October and Sunday 13 October, all day.

    • A rail replacement service is in operation between Cardiff Central and Rhymney.

    • Ticket acceptance will be in place with Cardiff Bus between Cardiff city centre and Coryton on Saturday. There will be no Coryton service on Sunday, as usual.

    • Train services to Penarth will run half-hourly on Saturday 12 October, all day.

    • Cardiff Queen Street - Rhymney

    • Cardiff Queen Street - Coryton

  • Cardiff to Rhymney and Coryton | Saturday 19 October - Sunday 20 October, all day

    • Engineering works on the Rhymney and Coryton lines will close the line to trains on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October, all day.

    • A rail replacement service is in operation between Cardiff Central and Rhymney.

    • Ticket acceptance will be in place with Cardiff Bus between Cardiff city centre and Coryton on Saturday. There will be no Coryton service on Sunday, as usual.

    • Train services to Penarth will run half-hourly on Saturday 19 October, all day.

    • Cardiff Queen Street - Rhymney

    • Cardiff Queen Street - Coryton

  • Cardiff Queen Street Station closures | Sunday 27 October to Friday 1 November, all day

    • As part of the South Wales Metro transformation, we’re upgrading the railway at Cardiff Queen Street, a busy gateway into our capital city. This work is essential to deliver Metro and involves new signalling and track upgrades so that we can run more services and introduce brand new electric trains onto our network soon.

    • To undertake these essential upgrades, we’ll need to close the station to trains for short periods with the work taking place during weekends to minimise disruption as much as possible.

    • During the following weekends, Cardiff Queen Street station will be closed, with no rail services stopping at or travelling through the station:

    • Sunday 27 October to Friday 1 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. If you’re travelling into or out of any of the following stations you will need to check before you travel as there will be replacement buses in operation or ticket acceptance with bus operators:

    • Cardiff Queen Street, Cardiff Central, Llandaff, Cathays, Cardiff Bay, Penarth, Coryton, Rhiwbina, Birchgrove, Ty Glas, and Heath Low Level.

    • The ticket office at Cardiff Queen Street station will remain open during these weekends to allow passengers to purchase tickets and find information on services.
       

 

Changes to train services

  • Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr 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.

    • Trains from Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil will divert between Radyr and Cardiff Central, 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.

    • 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.

  • 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

    • No rail services will run on the Coryton line - Coryton, Rhiwbina, Birchgrove, Ty Glas, Heath Low Level - during these closures. Ticket acceptance with Cardiff Bus will be in place along this route on the Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays during the closures.

    • Ticket acceptance will be in place with Cardiff Bus between Cardiff city centre and Coryton Monday 28 October to Saturday 2 November.

  • Rhymney line services

    • Buses will replace trains between Rhymney, Bargoed and Caerphilly and Cardiff Central from Sunday 27 October to Friday 1 November. Buses will run every 15 minutes during daytime, alternating between Rhymney and Bargoed.

    • Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 November, trains will operate between Rhymney and Heath High Level at a reduced frequency. A rail replacement service will be in operation will be in place between Caerphilly and Cardiff Central.

    • 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.

  • Cardiff to Barry Island and Bridgend (via Rhoose)

    • 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

    • Services between Penarth and Cardiff Central will operate at a reduced frequency from Monday to Friday (half-hourly day time).

  • 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 - 0915 and 21:15 - 00:00

    • Further information on the upcoming Sunday closures at Queen Street Station, bus replacement services and closures across the South-East Wales network can be found below.  
       

  • 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

 

Industrial action

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

Industrial action

  • Did you know?
    Travel safer
    You can plan ahead and decide when to travel using our Capacity Checker.
    Check capacity