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Coordinates: 51°36′03″N 3°20′37″W / 51.6009°N 3.3437°W / 51.6009; -3.3437
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{{short description|Commuter railway line in South Wales}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Update|date=April 2022|reason=It needs more explanation of the South Wales Metro and corresponding changes to the line}}{{More citations needed|date=February 2013}}
{{Refimprove|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox rail line
{{Infobox rail line
| name = Rhondda line
| name = Rhondda line
| image = Railway at Treforest - geograph.org.uk - 4494287.jpg
| image = Railway at Treforest - geograph.org.uk - 4494287.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_width = 280px
| caption = A pair of [[Arriva Trains Wales]] [[British Rail Class 142|Class 142]]s at Treforest, with a [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150]] on the opposite line in the background.
| caption = A pair of [[Arriva Trains Wales]] [[British Rail Class 142|Class 142s]] at Treforest, with a [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150]] on the opposite line in the background.
| type = Heavy Rail
| type = Heavy Rail
| system = [[National Rail]]
| system = [[National Rail]]
| locale = [[Cardiff]]<br>[[Rhondda Cynon Taff]]
| locale = [[Cardiff]]<br />[[Rhondda Cynon Taff]]
| start = Cardiff<br>{{coord|51.4760|-3.1790|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline|name=Cardiff Central station}}
| start = Cardiff<br />{{coord|51.4760|-3.1790|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline|name=Cardiff Central station}}
| end = Treherbert<br>{{coord|51.6722|-3.5361|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline|name=Treherbert station}}
| end = Treherbert<br />{{coord|51.6722|-3.5361|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline|name=Treherbert station}}
| stations =
| stations =
| open =
| open =
| owner = [[Transport for Wales]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
⚫
| owner = [[Network Rail]]
| operator =
| operator = [[Transport for Wales Rail]]
| character =
| character =
| stock =
| stock = [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150]] [[diesel multiple unit|DMUs]]
| linelength = {{convert|23|mi|22|chain|km|lk=in}}<ref>{{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 |origyear=1989 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Bradford on Avon |isbn=978-0-9549866-6-7 |at=maps 22, 29A & 28B |ref=harv }}</ref>
| linelength = {{convert|23|mi|22|chain|km|lk=in}}<ref>{{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, 29A & 28B }}</ref>
| tracks = [[single track (rail)|Single track]] – ''[[Treherbert railway station|Treherbert]] to [[Porth railway station|Porth]] with a [[passing loop]] at [[Ystrad Rhondda railway station|Ystrad]]''<br>[[Double track]] – ''[[Porth railway station|Porth]] to [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff]]''
| tracks = [[single track (rail)|Single track]] – ''[[Treherbert railway station|Treherbert]] to [[Porth railway station|Porth]] with a [[passing loop]] at [[Ystrad Rhondda railway station|Ystrad]]''<br />[[Double track]] – ''[[Porth railway station|Porth]] to [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff]]''
| gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| old_gauge =
| old_gauge =
| speed =
| speed =
⚫
| map = {{switcher
⚫
}}
| [[File:Rhondda line.png|280px]]<br />([[:commons:File:Rhondda line.png|Click to expand]])

| Show map
{{Rhondda Line}}
| {{Rhondda Line|inline=y}}

| Show route diagram
The '''Rhondda line''' is a [[Commuter rail in the United Kingdom|commuter]] [[railway line]] in [[South Wales]] from [[Cardiff]] to [[Treherbert]]. The line follows the [[Merthyr line]] as far as [[Pontypridd]], where it then diverges to continue along the [[Rhondda|Rhondda Valley]].
⚫
}}}}
The '''Rhondda line''', also known as the '''Treherbert line''',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bryant |first=Chris |date=Jul 23, 2019 |title=Chris Bryant on Twitter - "If only they were on the Treherbert line, eh?" |url=https://twitter.com/RhonddaBryant/status/1153555970565509121 |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Treherbert Line Transformation {{!}} Transport for Wales |url=https://tfw.wales/projects/metro/south-wales-metro/treherbert-line-transformation |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=tfw.wales |language=en}}</ref> is a [[Commuter rail in the United Kingdom|commuter]] [[railway line]] in [[South Wales]] from [[Cardiff]] to [[Treherbert]]. The line follows the [[Merthyr line]] as far as [[Pontypridd]], where it then diverges to continue along the [[Rhondda|Rhondda Valley]].


==Background==
==Background==
Line 37: Line 40:
In March 2007 it was announced that platforms on the branch are to be lengthened to enable 6 car trains to run, together with leasing of an additional eight [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150s]] for the whole network. This has been completed.
In March 2007 it was announced that platforms on the branch are to be lengthened to enable 6 car trains to run, together with leasing of an additional eight [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150s]] for the whole network. This has been completed.


The line between Treherbert and Porth was closed between 21 January and 24 January 2018 due to a landslip on the railway line. A replacement bus service ran whilst [[Network Rail]] cleared the line.<ref>https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/network-rail-and-arriva-trains-wales-thank-passengers-as-railway-reopens-between-porth-and-treherbert/</ref>
The line between Treherbert and Porth was closed between 21 and 24 January 2018 due to a landslip on the railway line. A replacement bus service ran whilst [[Network Rail]] cleared the line.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/network-rail-and-arriva-trains-wales-thank-passengers-as-railway-reopens-between-porth-and-treherbert/|title = Stories}}</ref>


==Services==
==Services==
The line currently has a half-hourly service Monday to Saturday daytime with services decreasing to hourly in the evening. On Sunday the current service is two-hourly. On 20 July, [[Arriva Trains Wales]] announced a summer trial of extra sunday services to Cardiff and Barry Island. This was in response to a recent survey by [[Leanne Wood]] and the success of extra sunday services on the nearby [[Merthyr Line]] and [[Rhymney Line]].<ref>https://arrivatrainswales-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/extra-sunday-services-between-treherbert-and-barry-island-for-the-summer</ref>
The line currently has a half-hourly service Monday to Saturday daytime with services decreasing to hourly in the evening. On Sunday the current service is two-hourly. On 20 July, [[Arriva Trains Wales]] announced a summer trial of extra Sunday services to Cardiff and Barry Island. This was in response to a recent survey by [[Leanne Wood]] and the success of extra Sunday services on the nearby [[Merthyr Line]] and [[Rhymney Line]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://arrivatrainswales-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/extra-sunday-services-between-treherbert-and-barry-island-for-the-summer| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180722125917/https://arrivatrainswales-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/extra-sunday-services-between-treherbert-and-barry-island-for-the-summer| archive-date = 2018-07-22| title = Extra Sunday services between Treherbert and Barry Island for the summer}} </ref>


⚫
==Electrification of the line==
The places served by the line are listed below:
⚫
On 16 July 2012 plans to electrify the line were announced by the UK Government as part of a £9.4bn package of investment of the railways in England and Wales.<ref>{{cite web|author=Richard Westcott |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18851907 |title=BBC News – £9bn railway investment announced by coalition |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=16 July 2012 |access-date=4 March 2015}}</ref>
*[[Cardiff city centre]]
*[[Cathays]]
*[[Llandaf]]
*[[Radyr]]
*[[Taff's Well]]
*[[Treforest]]
*[[Pontypridd]]
*[[Trehafod]]
*[[Porth]]
*[[Dinas Rhondda]]
*[[Tonypandy]]
*[[Llwynypia]]
*[[Ystrad Rhondda]]
*[[Ton Pentre]]
*[[Treorchy]]
*[[Ynyswen]]
*[[Treherbert]]


⚫
The announcement was made as an extension of the electrification of the [[South Wales Main Line]] from Cardiff to Swansea and the electrification of the south Wales [[Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes|Valley Lines]] at a total cost of £350 million. The investment will require new trains and should result in reduced journeys times and a cheaper to maintain network. Work was expected to start between 2014 and 2019, but was then pushed back to between 2019 and 2024.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18852955| title=Rail electrification to Swansea and south Wales valleys welcomed| website=BBC News| date=16 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
⚫
==Electrification of the line==

⚫
On 16 July 2012 plans to electrify the line were announced by the Government as part of a £9.4bn package of investment of the railways in England and Wales.<ref>{{cite web|author=Richard Westcott |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18851907 |title=BBC News – £9bn railway investment announced by coalition |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-07-16 |accessdate=2015-03-04}}</ref>
However, as part of Welsh Government's [[South Wales Metro]] this line has been taken over,<ref>{{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}}</ref> and is now being electrified<ref>{{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}}</ref> in preparation for new [[British Rail Class 398|Class 398]] tram-train rolling stock.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transport for Wales: meet the fleet |url=https://railcolornews.com/2019/12/04/uk-transport-for-wales-meet-the-fleet/#:~:text=These%20Class%20398%20tram%2Dtrains%20will%20stretch%20their%20wheels%20on%20the%20Treherbert%2C%20Aberdare%2C%20and%20Merthyr%20lines. |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=Railcolornews}}</ref>


The line is expected to close at the end of April 2023 for at least eight months to allow the work to take place.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-23 |title=Rhondda railway line to shut for eight months to upgrade 'mid-19th century' technology |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-03-22/major-railway-line-to-be-without-trains-until-next-year-at-least |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=ITV News}}</ref> As part of these works, Transport for Wales will also remove the outdated [[Token (railway signalling)|token-based signalling]] and replace it with a modern system.<ref name=":0" />
⚫
The announcement was made as an extension of the electrification of the [[South Wales Main Line]] from Cardiff to Swansea and the electrification of the south Wales [[Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes|Valley Lines]] at a total cost of £350 million. The investment will require new trains and should result in reduced journeys times and a cheaper to maintain network. It is thought to start between 2014 and 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18852955 |title=BBC News – Rail electrification to Swansea and south Wales valleys welcomed |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2012-07-16 |accessdate=2015-03-04}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of railway stations in Cardiff]]
* [[List of railway stations in Cardiff]]


==References==
==References==
{{commonscat|Rhondda Line}}
{{commons category|Rhondda Line}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


Latest revision as of 20:06, 25 April 2024

Rhondda line
A pair of Arriva Trains Wales Class 142s at Treforest, with a Class 150 on the opposite line in the background.
Overview
OwnerTransport for Wales[1]
LocaleCardiff
Rhondda Cynon Taff
Termini
Service
TypeHeavy Rail
SystemNational Rail
Operator(s)Transport for Wales Rail
Rolling stockClass 150 DMUs
Technical
Line length23 miles 22 chains (37.5 km)[2]
Number of tracksSingle track – Treherbert to Porth with a passing loop at Ystrad
Double track – Porth to Cardiff
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Route map

(Click to expand)
Legend
Rhondda and
Swansea Bay Railway
 Treherbert
Ynyswen
Treorchy
Ton Pentre
Ystrad Rhondda
Llwynypia
Tonypandy
Dinas Rhondda
Porth
Trehafod
Merthyr line and
Aberdare Line
 Pontypridd
Treforest
Treforest Estate
(closed Sundays)
 Taffs Well
Radyr
City Line
 Llandaf
Cathays
Coryton Line and
Rhymney line
 Cardiff Queen Street
Butetown branch line
 Cardiff Central
South Wales Main Line
Vale of Glamorgan Line

The Rhondda line, also known as the Treherbert line,[3][4] is a commuter railway line in South Wales from Cardiff to Treherbert. The line follows the Merthyr line as far as Pontypridd, where it then diverges to continue along the Rhondda Valley.

Background[edit]

The line is currently operated by Transport for Wales as part of the Valley Lines network. TfW replaced the previous franchise, Arriva Trains Wales in October 2018.

The first section of the line, as far as Pontypridd, is historically part of the Taff Vale Railway, from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil. At Pontypridd the Rhondda branch diverges and follows the course of the Rhondda Valley. It was single-tracked beyond Porth in the early 1980s, just prior to the commencement of the revival of the Valley Lines network. By 1986 a passing loop was constructed at Ystrad Rhondda station (itself newly built, with the original station of that name renamed Ton Pentre), to enable a half-hourly service to be introduced by British Rail. Another new station was opened at Ynyswen on the same day.

In March 2007 it was announced that platforms on the branch are to be lengthened to enable 6 car trains to run, together with leasing of an additional eight Class 150s for the whole network. This has been completed.

The line between Treherbert and Porth was closed between 21 and 24 January 2018 due to a landslip on the railway line. A replacement bus service ran whilst Network Rail cleared the line.[5]

Services[edit]

The line currently has a half-hourly service Monday to Saturday daytime with services decreasing to hourly in the evening. On Sunday the current service is two-hourly. On 20 July, Arriva Trains Wales announced a summer trial of extra Sunday services to Cardiff and Barry Island. This was in response to a recent survey by Leanne Wood and the success of extra Sunday services on the nearby Merthyr Line and Rhymney Line.[6]

Electrification of the line[edit]

On 16 July 2012 plans to electrify the line were announced by the UK Government as part of a £9.4bn package of investment of the railways in England and Wales.[7]

The announcement was made as an extension of the electrification of the South Wales Main Line from Cardiff to Swansea and the electrification of the south Wales Valley Lines at a total cost of £350 million. The investment will require new trains and should result in reduced journeys times and a cheaper to maintain network. Work was expected to start between 2014 and 2019, but was then pushed back to between 2019 and 2024.[8][9]

However, as part of Welsh Government's South Wales Metro this line has been taken over,[10] and is now being electrified[11] in preparation for new Class 398 tram-train rolling stock.[12]

The line is expected to close at the end of April 2023 for at least eight months to allow the work to take place.[13] As part of these works, Transport for Wales will also remove the outdated token-based signalling and replace it with a modern system.[4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhondda Line.
  1. ^ "Impact of Core Valley Lines divestment on the Wales & Western region" (PDF). orr.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  2. ^ Yonge, John; Padgett, David (August 2010) [1989]. Bridge, Mike (ed.). Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western (5th ed.). Bradford on Avon: Trackmaps. maps 22, 29A & 28B. ISBN 978-0-9549866-6-7.
  3. ^ Bryant, Chris (23 July 2019). "Chris Bryant on Twitter - "If only they were on the Treherbert line, eh?"". Twitter. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Treherbert Line Transformation | Transport for Wales". tfw.wales. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Stories".
  6. ^ "Extra Sunday services between Treherbert and Barry Island for the summer". Archived from the original on 22 July 2018.
  7. ^ Richard Westcott (16 July 2012). "BBC News – £9bn railway investment announced by coalition". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Rail electrification to Swansea and south Wales valleys welcomed". BBC News. 16 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Cardiff And Valleys Station Upgrades". Network Rail. 16 May 2018. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Impact of Core Valley Lines divestment on the Wales & Western region" (PDF). orr.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Core Valley Lines Transformation | Transport for Wales". tfw.wales. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Transport for Wales: meet the fleet". Railcolornews. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Rhondda railway line to shut for eight months to upgrade 'mid-19th century' technology". ITV News. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
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51°36′03″N 3°20′37″W / 51.6009°N 3.3437°W / 51.6009; -3.3437

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