A Glamorgan Metro

I posted earlier about the need to develop an integrated metro system serving south-east Wales,and posted specific proposals for a Cardiff Metro, which would form the core of the overall system. The core Cardiff Metro would be fed by two outer networks – a Glamorgan Metro and a Gwent Metro.

Taking the Glamorgan Metro system first, this is largely in place already, in the form of the Valley Lines. The Rhymney Valley to Penarth services should continue as-is with the main improvement being interconnectivity with the Cardiff Metro services. I propose some changes to the Taff Valley lines, including two small line extensions – from Aberdare to Hirwaun and a Cardiff Airport spur – but I also suggest some schedule/route changes to improve journey times.
Firstly I would make the Merthyr service run as a stopping service to Pontypridd, but then as an express to Cardiff Queen Street, stopping only at Radyr to allow interchange with Cardiff Metro services. The service would then continue to Cardiff Central, and then as an express to Barry before terminating at Cardiff Airport. This would improve journey times from the extremities of the network.
The Rhondda Valley and Cynon Valley service would stop at all stations to Cardiff Queen Street, and then continue to Barry and Barry Island as at present. However, I suggest re-routing every other train on these routes to join the City line at Radyr and continue to Cardiff Central from the west. The advantage to doing this is that it releases capacity at Queen Street , while maintaining (or improving) journey times to Cardiff Central, which will become an increasingly important commuter destination when the planned Cardiff Central Business District becomes a reality.

These are relatively minor changes and can be implemented very quickly, but the real improvements – both in terms of efficiency and speed – will come with electrification. The priority of which should be the Cardiff Airport to Merthyr route, with other lines to follow progressively.