Rhymney line transformation FAQ
Why are you working on the Upper Rhymney line?
Transport for Wales are undergoing major enhancements as part of the next phase of the South Wales Metro.
Starting at the end of March 2025, TfW will deliver an intensive 8-month programme of engineering work that will transform and electrify over 15km of railway line.
These further infrastructure improvements will enable electrified trains (Class 756s) to be introduced to the line, delivering faster, greener and more accessible transport to the communities of South Wales.
Which areas will you be working in?
We will be working using a phased approach across areas north of Caerphilly Station and up to Rhymney station.
Will there be any rail closures?
To deliver upgrades across the line and enable our teams to work 24/7, we’ll undertake several rail closures from April to October 2025. This will include two six-week closures, one over Easter, and the other over the Summer holidays.
The majority of these closures will only affect the line from Caerphilly to Rhymney, with rail services operating as normal from Caerphilly to Cardiff.
Full Closures
12 April - 23 May
19 July - 31 August
18 October - 3 November
There are also other scheduled closures between April and October. We’d advise all passengers to check before you travel.
When will this work be completed?
The majority of infrastructure work will be completed by December 2025.
When will our new trains be in use?
Enhancements will be rolled out gradually until 2027, ensuring a phased approach that minimises disruption to service performance.
From Summer 2025, we’ll introduce brand-new Class 756s trains which will run from Caerphilly to Penarth.
From 2026, we’ll slowly begin to introduce these trains onto the Rhymney line.
Will my station be upgraded as part of the works?
We began a programme of works in late 2022 to enhance the station North of Caerphilly to Rhymney. These enhancements included CCTV renewal, customer information screens, improved signage, waiting room refurbishment, level boarding, cycle hoops and waiting shelters. Upgrades to the 13 stations are expected to be completed by December 2025.
Will you be closing any level crossings?
To ensure the safety of pedestrians in preparation for the energisation of the line, we will need to close some level crossings. This will include level crossings in Rhymney North, Wernddu, Craig Rhymney, Ty-Isha and Gibbons.
Will you be improving any local footbridges?
We will be upgrading two footbridges in this region to ensure a safe distance between pedestrians and our railway line. During construction all our contractors will work considerately, and were possible the impacts on the surrounding lineside neighbours will be minimised. This includes:
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Lewis School Road Bridge
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Tir-Phil Over Bridge
What will this mean for lineside neighbours?
To allow this work to be completed within 8 months, our teams will need to work during both the day and night from Caerphilly to Rhymney.
This means there’ll be periods where engineering work is undertaken at night, causing disruption to those who live close to the railway.
We’ll do our best to contact our neighbours in advance of noisy engineering works planned to take place at night. Due to last minute changes to programmes, it’s not always possible to provide the exact dates and times of upcoming work.
We encourage our lineside neighbours to keep up to date with our Facebook and website pages, where we’ll post last-minute changes to planned work.
