Millions has been invested in the rail network with the final section of overhead line between Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay now complete
Brand new electric tram-trains are on the way to Wales(Image: Transport for Wales)
The electrification of the Core Valley Lines in south Wales has been completed following six years of engineering work.
Transport for Wales said the final section of overhead line equipment between Cardiff Queen Street railway station and Cardiff Bay railway station had now been installed and tested. The project covers around 170km (106 miles) of railway and is a key part of the South Wales Metro programme.
Work began in 2020 and included installing more than 280 miles of overhead wiring, supported by over 3,000 steel posts. Engineers also carried out track-lowering work at several bridges and built new substations to power the network. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here
The upgrade has introduced electric and tri-mode trains to the lines for the first time, with fully electric tram-trains due to begin operating later this spring between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay
The trains have the ability to run on both rail and tram lines and can operate on overhead electrical lines and battery power. Three carriages can carry more than 250 passengers, though there are no toilets on board as you would find on traditional trains.
Transport officials said the system combined overhead electric lines with battery-powered sections, allowing trains to run in areas where full electrification would be more difficult.
The Bay line upgrade, part of the wider programme, has received funding from the European Regional Development Fund via the Welsh Government.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said: “This is a landmark moment for rail in South Wales. We are finally seeing our ambition become a reality thanks to our unprecedented investment of more than £1bn to transform the CVL, with £800 million on new trains, and years of hard work and commitment from TfW.
“New, faster, modern trains, offering increased capacity and more frequent services helping to transform passenger experiences.
“This is another significant milestone on our mission to transform our railways.”
Dan Tipper, chief infrastructure officer at Transport for Wales, said: “Completing the electrification of the Core Valley Lines is a landmark achievement for our infrastructure teams and construction partners.
“This has been one of the most complex engineering programmes undertaken in Wales in recent decades and delivering it safely and efficiently is a testament to the skill and dedication of everyone involved.
“I’m immensely proud of the work delivered and the benefits it will unlock for passengers across the Valleys, with greener and faster services connecting communities.
“We’re hugely grateful to our communities who have at times been heavily impacted by the work. They will now be able to reap the benefits of the improvements through faster, greener, more frequent and reliable services.”
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