TfW FOI Request - Infrastructure and Penarth

Date issued: 28 August 2019

Thank you for your Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request from 08 August 2019. You requested the following information:

• When will Cardiff Bay Station close?
• When will Gilfach Fargoed station close?
• Has the Greyfriers Road extension been dropped entirely now since the ODP was signed?
• Can you provide a timescale for when TFW/NR plan to double the Penarth Branch as shown on the TFW development map supplied by TFW recently and posted on the ORR website?
• Following up on the response to Vaughan Gething can you provide the average number of passengers a week plus the AM and PM current passenger numbers for the Penarth line along with the projection for the franchise duration?
• Can you provide the train formation information for July for the Penarth services during the AM and PM peak (e.g. service time with number of units and their class(s))?

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. We can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require.

1. Closure of Cardiff Bay station

The existing Cardiff Bay station will be replaced by a temporary station by December 2022 in order to facilitate double track realignment and extension to a new station at Flourish by the end of 2023 in preparation for the new December 2023 timetable. The temporary station will close once Flourish and the new Loudon Square stations become operational.

Whilst there may be some disruption to rail users and members of the public during construction, TfW will keep everybody well informed and provide alternate means of travel at such times. TfW are working with Cardiff Council to integrate the council’s future proposals around the Cardiff Bay area which may result in changes to the proposed timetable.

2. When will Gilfach Fargoed station close?

TfW is awaiting feedback from Welsh Government regarding the closure of Gilfach Fargoed station. Our current plans and timetable modelling are based on the station closing by the end of 2023 in preparation for the new December 2023 timetable.

3. Has the Greyfriers Road extension been dropped entirely now since the ODP was signed?

There are four extendibility options in the Grant Agreement. Greyfriars Road extension remains an option, but as a result of developments associated with Cardiff University, the planned route is now not feasible. Stage C preliminary design will commence in September 2019 and therefore the extendibility option has not been developed at this time.

4. Can you provide a timescale for when TFW/NR plan to double the Penarth Branch as shown on the TFW development map supplied by TFW recently and posted on the ORR website?

The preliminary design stage for doubling the Penarth Branch will commence in January 2020. Penarth is currently a single line known as the Branch Line. A second line is planned and will run in parallel with the existing line for around 1,120 metres. This new line will be called the ‘Down Main’. The new ‘Down Main’ Platform will be staggered to the existing Branch Platform due to site topography. The existing Branch line will be re-named the ‘Up Main’ as post construction there will be two tracks. There are no planned extensions to the existing buffer stop at Penarth.

A new second 120 metre platform will be constructed on the down side. The original proposal was to have a step-down access to the new platform from Stanwell Bridge. However, after carrying out a site visit it is believed People with Reduced Mobility ramp access is feasible. Level Boarding will allow passengers to access a train without having to step up or down.

5. Following up on the response to Vaughan Gething can you provide the average number of passengers a week plus the AM and PM current passenger numbers for the Penarth line along with the projection for the franchise duration?

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with this information. This is because it is covered by exemption section 43(2) of the FOI Act. This exempts information if its disclosure under this Act would or would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it). Information relating to current and projected passenger numbers are considered exempt under section 43(2) of the Act.

Section 43(2) exempts information if its disclosure would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it). Section 43(2) is a qualified exemption and we are required to conduct a public interest test when applying any qualified exemption. This means that after it has been decided that the exemption is engaged, the public interest in releasing the information must be considered. If the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in withholding it then the exemption does not apply and must be released. In the FOI Act there is a presumption that information should be released unless there are compelling reasons to withhold it.

Considerations in favour of the release of the information included Transport for Wales’ commitment to openness and transparency in its commercial activities, to allow public scrutiny and to demonstrate that public funds are being used in an efficient and effective way. Furthermore, private sector companies engaging in commercial activities with the public sector must expect some information about those activities to be disclosed.

Considerations against disclosure included the recognition that disclosure may cause the data to be used by competitor’s which could affect the supplier’s competitive position in their respective market and confidence that its customers, suppliers or investors may have in its commercial operations. Transport for Wales must retain commercial confidence of its contractors and it has been determined that the release of this information may jeopardise this commercial confidence.

6. Can you provide the train formation information for July for the Penarth services during the AM and PM peak (e.g. service time with number of units and their class(s))?

The information requested is in the attached spreadsheet.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Transport for Wales.

Yours sincerely

Transport for Wales