The Treherbert line will reopen for passengers on Monday 26 February 2024 - earlier than we recently announced.
The service will return to 2 trains per hour using our Class 150 trains. However, from 2024 we’ll start to introduce our brand-new Class 756 trains as we continue to deliver the next phases of the South Wales Metro.
Services will not call at Ynyswen station, which is closed temporarily whilst we continue to carry out major infrastructure work at the station. We will be running a shuttle bus Northbound to Treherbert and Southbound to Treorchy which will integrate with the train timetable.
Train services will call at the following stations:
Pontypridd, Trehafod, Porth, Dinas Rhondda, Tonypandy, Llwynypia, Ystrad Rhondda, Ton Pentre, Treorchy and Treherbert.
We are still carrying out essential electrification works on the line and as a result trains will be replaced during the evenings from Sundays to Thursdays.
Work on the Treherbert line
Since April 2023, the Treherbert railway line has been closed to rail services to allow us to carry out a huge programme of transformational works, as part of the South Wales Metro.
Our teams have been working incredibly hard since starting the programme of works, including installing Overhead Line Equipment to power our new electric trains, three new track loops to increase the frequency of services, installation of a brand-new signalling system and extensive station works, including making platforms bigger and putting in new footbridges.
We appreciate that our customers and lineside neighbours have been incredibly patient with us during this time.
Timeline for reopening the Treherbert line
We aim to re-introduce passenger rail services onto the Treherbert line on Monday 26 February.
We’ll reintroduce two trains per hour onto the Treherbert line. We’ll initially use our class 150 units that were used on the Treherbert line before its closure in April 2023. We will then begin a phased introduction of our brand-new Metro vehicles in 2024.
As trains will now be running on the track, we must remind people that no unauthorised personnel should attempt to trespass onto the railway line as it is extremely dangerous and illegal. New electrical overhead line equipment on the railway carries 25,000 volts and poses an increased risk for trespassers.
Our work
- Remove the old ‘Token Exchange Signalling System’ and install a brand-new signalling system for the entire line.
- Divert huge gas and water mains which are obstructing us from electrifying the railway.
- Install equipment to allow trains to run using electricity, including foundation piling, and adding masts and wiring.
- Build new station platforms at Treherbert, Ynyswen and Dinas Rhondda.
- Build new track along the line and new passing loops between Ynsywen and Treherbert, Ton Pentre and Ystrad Rhondda, and Porth to Dinas Rhondda.
- Build a new footbridge at Ynyswen and Dinas Rhondda.
- Install level boarding at various stations.
- Install new and refurbished toilets, waiting rooms and shelters. We’re also installing or upgrading help points, CCTV cameras, ticket vending machines, smart ticket validators, Wi-Fi and customer information systems.
Extension of the Rhondda Railcard 50% discount
As a thank you to our customers and lineside neighbours for their patience throughout the transformation work, we will be extending the Rhondda Railcard discount scheme for 3 months following the reopening of the line in February 2024. The discount entitles all passengers who travel on the Treherbert line to a 50% discount on the cost of their ticket, with the discount available until the end of May 2024.
To obtain the discount, passengers will need to present the physical Rhondda Railcard to the train conductor alongside their rail ticket.
Ynyswen Station
Due to the extensive work that needs to be done to upgrade Ynyswen Station, the station will remain closed to allow our teams to continue to undertake significant work to the station.
Whilst the line has been closed, we’ve installed a track loop at this station. This allows trains to pass each other on the line and allows us to deliver more frequent services. We’ll soon start work on building a new station platform, which accommodates the new loop, as well as a new accessible bridge, with stairs and lifts to connect each platform. Due to the extensive drainage works required to prevent flooding at the station, and delays in obtaining the required land agreements to undertake this work, we will need to continue work at the site throughout 2024, with a reopening date for the station planned for late 2024.
We advise customers to use Treherbert or Treorchy station until we can reopen the station for passengers and we will be running a shuttle bus Northbound to Treherbert and Southbound to Treorchy which will integrate with the train timetable.
Bus replacement information
We will continue to carry out essential electrification works on the line and as a result trains will be replaced during the evenings from Sundays to Thursdays, so we’re asking our passengers to check before travelling.
Our journey checker tool will be updated with the replacement bus information.
- Rail replacement bus stops
- Rail replacement bus stop maps
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Treherbert
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Ynyswen
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Treorchy
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Ton Pentre
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Ystrad Rhondda
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Llwynypia
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Tonypandy
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Dinas Rhondda
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Porth
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Trehaford
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Would you like more information?
The Welsh Government and TfW are committed to an ambitious programme of Metro improvements known as the Core Valleys Lines (CVL) Transformation. This transformation project has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Did you know?
Did you know the Treherbert line is currently operated by a Token Exchange Signalling System?
Token exchange in a railway is a physical object which a train driver is required to have or see, entering it into the token unit before travelling onto a particular section of single track. The token is endorsed with the names of the section it belongs to, i.e. Treherbert, Tonypandy.
This is the machine that operates the Treherbert line:
