CORE VALLEY LINES MODERNISATION

The Core Valley Lines are transferring to the Welsh Government. RHODRI CLARK reports on the tasks and challenges ahead for the teams tasked with modernising the infrastructure

Infrastructure works to modernise the Core Valley Lines will soon get underway in earnest, following conclusion of the process to transfer the infrastructure from Network Rail to the Welsh Government. The aim of the £738 million modernisation is to provide four trains per hour to Cardiff from each Heads of the Valleys terminus, operated by tram-trains and tri-mode units with no use of diesel over Core Valley Lines (CVL) infrastructure.

The CVL comprise Cardiff Queen Street station and all lines north thereof, including the freight-only line from Ystrad Mynach to Cwmbargoed and the disused line from Aberdare to Hirwaun (Tower). Also included in the asset transfer are the City line, from Radyr to near Ninian Park station (north of Grangetown, close to Cardiff Canton depot), and the spur from Queen Street to Cardiff Bay.

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