• The Metro will bring new job, business, education and other opportunities to the South Wales area.

• These works are part of a three quarter of a billion pound investment in the Metro, including £164 million of European Regional Development Funding through the Welsh Government

• Transport for Wales are working closely with local communities and businesses to explore ways in which disruption can be kept to a minimum. 

Earlier this year, TfW completed the transfer of rail assets (known locally as the Core Valleys lines) from Network Rail into its ownership. This step to bring together train operator and railway asset maintainer created a joined-up ‘one team’ approach for the Metro, in line with the Welsh Government’s ambition for TfW to directly own or operate Wales’ public transport network. 

From 3rd August, TfW will start to build the South Wales Metro, which will see major infrastructure works including the electrification of over 170 km of track mostly with overhead lines, station and signalling upgrades and the construction of at least five new stations.  

James Price, Transport for Wales’ CEO said:

“Transport for Wales is absolutely committed to delivering the South Wales Metro and we've now moved forward with further transformational works. 

“We understand the impact of Covid-19 but will be following all relevant safety advice from the Welsh Government as we push forward with our investment programme.”

Explaining the significant development work ahead, James continued:

“This is a once-in-a-generation project and through building the South Wales Metro we hope to help regenerate the economy in Wales especially as we enter the covid-19 recovery phase. We now have significant physical infrastructure work to do to overhaul our rail network which was largely built in the Victorian era, to get it ready for our new faster, greener and more frequent train service.  

“We hope that the people of South Wales and our neighbours living near our railway lines will be excited by the opportunities the South Wales Metro will bring.  I also want to assure them that whilst we have a lot of work to do, we’ll do all we can to minimise disruption caused by the work we’ll be undertaking and that we’ll regularly update them about the progress we’re making as work continues.”   

Ken Skates, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, added:

“It’s great to see work commencing on the ground to deliver this ambitious scheme. Making it easier for people to travel in the future will ensure communities are better connected while increasing access to social and economic opportunities. The transformation of the Core Valley Lines provides a real opportunity to assist in the economic recovery from Covid-19 through the utilisation of local supply chains to build back better.

“Our investment in Metro systems in the north and the south of Wales is evidence of our commitment to creating a modern transport network that will meet Wales’ future needs.”

Work to build the South Wales Metro will ramp up this summer during the day and night and TfW will put in place alternative travel arrangements for customers when work is taking place. Transformation work is expected to take three years and TfW customers and near neighbours can check here for up to date information on progress.  

Customers can expect increased capacity, quicker journeys and better connections between different types of transport.  Services will also be greener, more frequent, more accessible, more reliable and quieter for those who live near the railway.  

Information Source: Transport for Wales