Rails in Wales. Latest progress in Valley Lines. April 2024

Join us as we travel to Trefforest for the latest trial runs of the FLIRTS and platform improvements. We also check out progress at Taffs Well Tram-Train depot as 15 units are now on site and roads, car park and new footbridge are viewed. From Radyr we move along the City Line, with more extended platforms, passing Canton Depot and more new stock on view before our arrival back at Central

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this interesting video. How odd that the wires have not been erected through Taffs Well station. More odd is the use of a diesel only Class 231 on driver training to Pontypridd, when the Tri-mode 756s have already been used there ! TfW are now saying the 756s will be used just to Pontypridd when the National Eisteddfod is held there in the summer. It looks like the whole system is further delayed.

[@StripeyNick]

The 231s aren't being used for driver training. One is in service to Treherbert as a trial for usage when the Eisteddfod is on. Driver training is slowly being carried out on the 756s (more of a conversion course so that there is the understanding of the electric side of things) prior to their introduction in June

[@andrewbutler6477]

The class 197s now work regularly so ebbw vale

[@MervynPartin]

Good morning, Mike. Nice to see that work is progressing. Several previous comments refer to the gaps in OLE. I was also wondering about that, particularly at Taff's Well station. Do you have any details of what the plan is there? It would seem a bit daft to be using batteries on the through lines when the depot is already wired.

[@TamasKiss-bv9hz]

👍👍👍❤🤍💚 Tom from Hungary.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Thanks for watching Tamas, more next week..

[@juliansadler6263]

And there's TfW claiming electrification is complete from Cardiff to Pontypridd and that the depot has been 'switched on''.

[@StripeyNick]

The electrification is complete and powered up. I've seen one of the tram trains using it

[@juliansadler6263]

@@StripeyNick But still the big gaps in the wiring. Many stretches do not yet have masts erected.

[@StripeyNick]

It's not a continuous system. Where the gaps are, the 756s and the 398s will switch to battery power

[@GarethJonesPilipala]

@@StripeyNick It does seem that there is more of the route south of Pontypridd that's not electrified than is electrified! Does anyone know why that is?

[@paulsheward3325]

Because they can't afford to raise all the bridges