Transport for Wales has announced that the Rhymney valley railway line will undergo major enhancements as part of the next phase of the South Wales Metro.
Starting at the end of March 2025, TfW will deliver an intensive 8-month programme of engineering work that will transform and electrify over 15km of railway line.
Brand-new trains (Class 231s) were introduced to the Rhymney valley line in 2023 as part of TfW’s £800 million investment into brand-new trains across Wales.
These further infrastructure improvements will enable electrified trains (Class 756s) to be introduced to the line, delivering faster, greener and more accessible transport to the communities of South Wales.
To deliver this intensive 8-month programme of work safely, there will be periods where the railway line will be closed and rail replacement services in operation to keep passengers moving. This includes two 6-week closures from 12 April to 23 May and 19 July to 31 August.
Dan Tipper, Chief Infrastructure Officer at TfW said: "We are excited to embark on our transformation programme to upgrade the Rhymney line as part of the South Wales Metro project, aimed at transforming public transport in South Wales.
"We'll be carrying out major infrastructure improvements on the line, including the installation of Overhead Line Equipment to electrify the line and upgrades to local railway stations."
"We appreciate the patience of our customers and neighbours living near the railway as we carry out these upgrades. We understand that rail closures and engineering work may cause disruption for those who rely on our services and for those living close to the tracks and would like to urge all customers to check before travelling during this period.”
Image credit: Transport for Wales
