Rhymney Line

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Rhymney Line
Overview
Type Heavy Rail
System National Rail
Locale Rhymney Valley
Operation
Owner Network Rail
Technical
No. of tracks Double track Cardiff- Bargoed
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
[]
Rhymney Line
Legend
 Rhymney
 Pontlottyn
 Tir-Phil
 Brithdir
 Bargoed
 Gilfach Fargoed
 Pengam
 Hengoed
 Ystrad Mynach
 Llanbradach
 Energlyn & Churchill Park
 Aber
 Caerphilly
 Caerphilly Tunnel
Cefn Onn
closed 1986
 Lisvane and Thornhill
 Llanishen
 Heath High Level
Coryton Line
Merthyr Line and
Rhondda Line
 Cardiff Queen Street
 Cardiff Central

The Rhymney Line is a commuter rail line running from Central Cardiff through the Rhymney valley via Heath and Llanishen in the north of the city, to Caerphilly, Bargoed and Rhymney.

History

The name comes from the fact that the original line followed was part of the Rhymney Railway's system.

The line is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) as part of the Valley Lines network. ATW replaced the previous franchise, Wales & Borders Trains in December 2003.

In March 2007 the latest in a series of infrastructure improvements on the Valley Lines was announced, included lengthening of platforms between Rhymney and Penarth to allow Class 150 units to operate in multiples of 3 (6 cars). However, this is postponed indefinitely due to the sub-lease by the Department for Transport, to First Great Western, of the units that would have allowed this extra capacity.

Service

The line currently has a 15 minute daytime headway between Bargoed and Cardiff, with most journeys terminating at Penarth. Prior to re-signalling early in 2006, a 20 minute headway was operated. North of Bargoed, one train per hour runs over the single track to Rhymney. The Sunday service operates over the entire length of the line every 2 hours, though this now runs all the day since Dec 2005.

Rolling stock

Current stock comprises DMU classes 142, 143 and 150. The Rhymney line was one of the final two routes worked by Class 37/4 diesel locomotives on passenger trains (the other being the West Highland Line).

Some peak hour and Saturday services were formed of one Class 37/4 locomotive and four Mk. 2F carriages. Two locomotives received special heritage repaints into 1960s BR Green livery (no. 37411) or 1980s BR Blue Large Logo livery (no. 37425) to mark the end of locomotive-hauled trains. Sadly two Class 37s (nos. 37425 and 37408) were involved in a runaway situation and collided at Rhymney Sidings on 30 July 2005. Number 37408 was withdrawn, and replaced by previously stored no. 37419. Number 37425 was repaired, but whilst it was out of traffic, Class 47 locomotives were hired from Riviera Trains as cover. Class 37-hauled trains finished on 10 December 2005, however in the new year Arriva received complaints from commuters about comfort and over-crowding, so reinstated a Monday to Friday diagram, operating a morning train into Cardiff, and an evening train back to Rhymney, usually using 37410. With the December 2006 timetable change this service reverted to DMU, and with Arriva Trains Wales said to be disposing of its loco hauled stock, it would appear as though the end of loco haulage on the line has finally come.

Electrification of the Line

On 16 July 2012 plans to electrify the line were announced by the UK Government. 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. It is thought to start between 2014 and 2019.[1] Preliminary re-signalling work on the route, which will see the remaining manual signal boxes at Heath, Ystrad Mynach and Bargoed abolished in favour of remote control from the new Cardiff Rail Operating Centre, was completed in early September 2013[2]

In addition, a new station at Energlyn & Churchill Park in Caerphilly was opened on 16 December 2013, with trains running from there since 8 December.[3]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18852955
  2. ↑ The Signal Box forum - Cardiff Rymney Valley resignalling www.signalbox.org; Retrieved 2013-09-12
  3. ↑ "Energlyn & Churchill Park train station receives official opening". Caerphilly Observer. 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2013-12-17. 

See also


Railway lines in Wales
InterCity lines
Main lines
Valley and Cardiff Local Lines
Other lines
Road
Bus
Cycle
Railway lines and operators
Major railway stations
Other city railway stations
Air
Water
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