Cardiff City Line
{{short description|Commuter railway line in Cardiff, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{multiple issues|
{{Update|date=April 2022|reason=It needs more explanation of the South Wales Metro and corresponding changes to the line}}
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{{Infobox rail line
| name = Cardiff City Line
| image = Class142 Danescourt Up3.jpg
| caption = A Class 142 train approaches {{rws|Danescourt}}
en route to {{rws|Coryton|Cardiff|Coryton}}
| type = Suburban rail
| system = National Rail
| locale = Cardiff
| start = {{rws|Cardiff Central}}
| end = {{rws|Radyr}}
| stations = 4
| open = 1987
| owner = Network Rail and Transport for Wales{{Cite web |title=Impact of Core Valley Lines divestment on the Wales & Western region |url=https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-09/divestment-of-core-valley-lines-in-the-wales-and-western-region-2020-07-15.pdf |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=orr.gov.uk}}
| operator = Transport for Wales Rail
| character =
| stock = {{ubl|Class 150 DMUs|Class 231|Class 756}}
| linelength = {{convert|4|mi|66|chain|km|lk=in}}{{cite book |last1=Yonge |first1=John |last2=Padgett |first2=David |editor-last=Bridge |editor-first=Mike |title=Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western |edition=5th |date=August 2010 |orig-year=1989 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Bradford on Avon |isbn=978-0-9549866-6-7 |at=maps 22 & 28B }}
| tracks = double track throughout
| gauge = {{track gauge|uksg|allk=on}}
| electrification = 25 kV 50 hz AC OLE (Discontinuous)
| old_gauge =
| speed =
| map = {{switcher
| Show map
| {{Cardiff City Line|inline=y}}
| Show route diagram
}}
}}
The Cardiff City Line is a suburban rail line in Cardiff that runs between {{rws|Radyr}} and {{rws|Cardiff Central}} via {{rws|Fairwater}}.
History
The line was opened by the Taff Vale Railway in 1859, as part of its route from {{stnlnk|Radyr}} to the docks at Penarth.[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Penarth_Harbour,_Dock_and_Railway Grace's Guide – Penarth Dock & Harbour Railway] www.gracesguide.co.uk; Retrieved 12 September 2013 Subsequent construction by the TVR added links to {{rws|Cardiff Central}} and to the {{rws|Penarth}} Extension Railway by 1878. Originally the line was freight-only, but over the years saw regular use for empty passenger trains thanks to its links with the depot at Cardiff Canton TMD and also for football specials to Ninian Park stadium and periodic engineering diversions.[http://www.walesrails.co.uk/c.html Wales Rail – Cardiff City Line] www.walesrail.co.uk; Retrieved 12 September 2013
The first regular passenger service was introduced to the line on 5 October 1987, when three new stations were opened at {{rws|Waun-gron Park}}, {{rws|Fairwater}} and {{rws|Danescourt}}, and regular service was introduced to the previously existing {{rws|Ninian Park}} station. The new service was introduced by British Rail in co-operation with the Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan County Councils.{{cite book |last1=Walters |first1=Laurence |title=Railways of Cardiff |date=1995 |publisher=Ian Allan Ltd|isbn=0-7110-2380-8 |page=80}}
Services
There are currently trains every half hour which drop to every hour in the evenings on Mondays-Saturdays. These services are now loop services from June 2024 with Merthyr to Aberdare trains travelling via Llandaf and Cardiff Queen St then after Cardiff Central travel via Ninian Park to Radyr and onto Aberdare.
June 2024 also saw the introduction of a hourly Sunday service with Aberdare services starting at Cardiff Central.
Pre June 2024 city line services ran from Radyr to Coryton but these have been replaced by a Coryton to Penarth service.
Transport for Wales currently operates the line as part of the former Valley Lines network. TfW succeeded the previous franchisee Arriva Trains Wales in October 2018. Some freight services also use the line.
The line is also used as a diversionary route for trains serving {{rws|Merthyr Tydfil}}, {{rws|Aberdare}} and {{rws|Treherbert}} when the line between {{rws|Cardiff Queen Street}} and Radyr is closed for engineering work. In the past there were shuttle trains on the line to serve {{rws|Pontypridd}} and beyond with one stop at {{rws|Ninian Park}}.
Trains
TfW operates the line with diesel multiple units of Sprinter classes 150 and 153.
Electrification
On 16 July 2012 the Department for Transport announced plans to electrify the line. This will require new electric multiple unit trains and should reduce journey times, operating costs and maintenance costs. Work was expected to start between 2014 and 2019, but was pushed back to between 2019 and 2024.{{cite web| url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/wales/cardiff-and-valleys/| title=Cardiff And Valleys Station Upgrades| website=Network Rail| date=16 May 2018| access-date=16 May 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517010051/https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/wales/cardiff-and-valleys/| archive-date=17 May 2018| url-status=dead}}
The announcement was made as an extension of the electrification of the South Wales Main Line from {{rws|Cardiff Central}} to {{rws|Swansea}} and the electrification of the south Wales Valley Lines at a total cost of £350 million.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18852955 |title=Rail electrification to Swansea and south Wales valleys welcomed |publisher=BBC Online |date=16 July 2012 }} This in turn is part of a £9.4 billion investment in railways in England and Wales.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18851907 |title=£9bn railway investment announced by coalition |publisher=BBC Online |date=16 July 2012 }}
However, these plans have since been replaced by Welsh Government's South Wales Metro. This line has been partially taken over,{{Cite web |title=Impact of Core Valley Lines divestment on the Wales & Western region |url=https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-09/divestment-of-core-valley-lines-in-the-wales-and-western-region-2020-07-15.pdf |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=orr.gov.uk}} and is now being electrified.{{Cite web |title=Core Valley Lines Transformation {{!}} Transport for Wales |url=https://tfw.wales/projects/metro/south-wales-metro/work-progress |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=tfw.wales}}
See also
References
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist}}
{{Railway lines in Wales}}
{{Transport in Cardiff}}
{{South Wales Metro}}