Cardiff Bay Station branch

[whole diary]

[johnneyw]

Cardiff local news has information about plans for the Cardiff Bay branch from Queen Street.  As I read it, the implication is that the old idea about extending the branch a couple of hundred metres towards a new station at the bay have been dropped in favour of keeping a revamped existing one.  The intermediate new station looks confirmed though.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/plans-revealed-transform-cardiff-bay-24301679

[Hafren]

I think it's more that this particular planning application refers to the existing part of the route.

The master plan is also set to include a transport hub that would provide a main terminus and interchange on Pierhead Street for new tram-train services and bus services to Cardiff Bay, however, the planning application notes that this would be separate from the proposed transformation of the station.

I take this paragraph to mean the extension is still going ahead.

[johnneyw]

I think it's more that this particular planning application refers to the existing part of the route.

The master plan is also set to include a transport hub that would provide a main terminus and interchange on Pierhead Street for new tram-train services and bus services to Cardiff Bay, however, the planning application notes that this would be separate from the proposed transformation of the station.

I take this paragraph to mean the extension is still going ahead.

Yes, I spotted that too which suggests a further (3rd) stop after the (according to the article's illustration) revamped current old Brunel station terminus site......yet the article only speaks of the two stops.  There's also the issue that the line would need to cross a road immediately after the current terminus.
I do hope that you're right though.

[Hafren]

I think the issue is that the article's based heavily on a specific planning application, and doesn't look too much at the bigger picture. I haven't looked into the geography of the plans at all, and haven't worked out how the route will get past the buildings – the picture suggests perhaps tapering towards Lloyd George Avenue, but I don't know how accurate the artist's impression is. With the train-trams running on-street for the extension, I assume the junction isn't too big an issue, presumably with some remodelling.   

[johnneyw]

Wales Online are reporting on revisions to the Cardiff Bay line and announcement of the commencement of construction preparatory work.
In short, there will be a new station at Butetown, a little North of the original Loudon Square proposed site and there will seemingly no longer be an extension past Cardiff Bay Station but the station itself will be upgraded with two platforms.
Article link below:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-suburb-getting-new-railway-24763645

[johnneyw]

It looks like work is about to start on the Cardiff Bay branch according to this article:

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/work-to-begin-on-new-welsh-railway-station-11-01-2023/

There's quite a lot to do with electrification, a new station, line/signalling improvements, an upgraded Cardiff Bay station and (I think) a 2024 completion date.  Portishead line take note.
New tram trains too!

[johnneyw]

There's a bit more about the Bay Line in this Wales Online article which goes on to try and explain the broader picture in the capital of the Principality, especially the somewhat confusing relationship between Cardiff "Crossrail" and the Transport for Wales South Wales Metro.
I'm not sure if I'm less or more confused about it all after reading the article but it's a fair attempt at making some sense of it.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/everything-know-cardiffs-first-new-26031344?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

[johnneyw]

I had a look at the ongoing works along the Cardiff Bay Line on Wednesday.  Since my previous visit just a few months ago there's a very visible change along the line.
The photographs here show the transformation at Cardiff Bay station with the new platform and extra line visible.  Pictures taken from the end of the existing platform, the passenger shelter and from the road running parallel to the line.

[johnneyw]

In addition to the above post on the Cardiff Bay Line, here's a picture of the work done so far on the new intermediate station between the bay and Queen Street Station.  Again there's been a noticeable visible progress in just a short while.  Rather impressive so far I think.

[infoman]

With a change in leadership in Wales,maybe electrification could be on its way on the Cardiff to Swansea line

[Red Squirrel]

I had a look at the ongoing works along the Cardiff Bay Line on Wednesday.  Since my previous visit just a few months ago there's a very visible change along the line.
The photographs here show the transformation at Cardiff Bay station with the new platform and extra line visible.  Pictures taken from the end of the existing platform, the passenger shelter and from the road running parallel to the line.

I saw the concrete pipe sections and wondered if they were components for Bristol’s anticipated rubber-tyred underground autonomous micro-pod rapidish transitish systemish… but I think they’re just drains.

[johnneyw]

I had a look at the ongoing works along the Cardiff Bay Line on Wednesday.  Since my previous visit just a few months ago there's a very visible change along the line.
The photographs here show the transformation at Cardiff Bay station with the new platform and extra line visible.  Pictures taken from the end of the existing platform, the passenger shelter and from the road running parallel to the line.

I saw the concrete pipe sections and wondered if they were components for Bristol’s anticipated rubber-tyred underground autonomous micro-pod rapidish transitish systemish… but I think they’re just drains.

Sometimes a drain is just a drain!

With apologies to Freud.

[johnneyw]

With a change in leadership in Wales,maybe electrification could be on its way on the Cardiff to Swansea line

Possibly... although there is a fair bit of electrification already being carried out on the South Wales Metro.

[anthony215]

Big changes being consulted on for the valley lines next summer.

All aberdare and merthyr services will loop clockwise or anticlockwise around the city centre via Radyr- Cathays -Central -Ninian Park-radyr and back up the valleys.

In addition all services from Rhymney  and Bargoed will run to Barry Island and Bridgend via VOG.

The Penarth branch will be served by a 2tph from Coryton abd a 2tph service to Caerphilly.

This gives 6tph between Cardiff and Caerphilly compared to 4tph now.

Cardiff  Bay line gets 4tph to queen Street  shuttle as well as a 2tph service to Pontypridd.  So Cathays to pontypridd still gets 6tph. Cardiff to pontypridd will increase from 5-6,tph to 8tph.

The cityline gains a Sunday service too so now only the Coryton branch has no trains on sundays

https://tfw.wales/sites/default/files/2023-12/TfW%20Rail%209th%20SA%20%28June%2024%29%20Form%20P.pdf

[grahame]

I have mirrored that for members at http://www.passenger.chat/mirror/TfW2ORR.pdf