Core Valley Lines Electrification Completed as Cardiff Bay Line Energised

The electrification of the Core Valley Lines (CVL) has been completed following the energisation of overhead line equipment on the Cardiff Bay branch.

The final stage of the project saw the installation and activation of electrification infrastructure along the 800-metre stretch between Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay, marking the completion of a major six-year programme delivered by Transport for Wales (TfW).

The £1 billion scheme has transformed approximately 170km (105.5 miles) of railway across South Wales, forming a key part of wider efforts to modernise the region’s rail network.

As a result of the works, temporary changes to services on the Cardiff Bay line are now in place. For a two-month period, services will operate as a four trains-per-hour (4tph) shuttle between Cardiff Bay and the other Cardiff station, replacing the previous direct services to Pontypridd and Cardiff Queen Street. These changes are expected to remain in place until 22 May.

TfW has also confirmed that new Class 398 tram-trains are set to enter service this spring. The vehicles will initially operate between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay, representing a significant upgrade in capacity and passenger experience.

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, described the milestone as a major achievement for the region:

“This is a landmark day for rail in South Wales. We are finally seeing our ambition become a reality thanks to our unprecedented investment of more than £1 billion to transform the CVL, with £800 million on new trains, and years of hard work and commitment from TfW.”

Dan Tipper, Chief Infrastructure Officer at TfW, highlighted the complexity of the programme:

“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.”

The completion of the CVL electrification represents a significant step forward in delivering a more sustainable, reliable and modern rail network for South Wales.