London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Trains: Valleys passengers begin 10 months of no services

Trains: Valleys passengers begin 10 months of no services

Passengers on a major commuter line will not be able to catch a train until 2024 as upgrade work is about to begin.

From Sunday, the line from Treherbert to Pontypridd in Rhondda Cynon Taf will close and replacement buses introduced.

The work is part of the shift to the South Wales Metro, which is now £260m over budget at £1bn.

Transport Minister Lee Waters said the disruption would be "worth it", but one NHS worker said replacement buses set off too late for his job.

Signalling technology dating back to the 1930s is among the old equipment being replaced and people living in Rhondda Cynon Taf will get half-price tickets while the work is happening.

However, this discount only applies for trips only taken on this line, down to Cardiff Central.

New equipment, masts and wires are being fitted to modern electric trains can use the tracks, which also means a number of gas and water mains will need to be diverted.

Some station platforms will be replaced and new footbridges will also be installed.

Leanne Culverhouse says the "uncertainty" around replacement buses makes her worry


About 12 miles (19km) of track will close, but Transport for Wales (TfW) has not committed to an exact date when it will reopen.

Passengers and businesses alike have said they will be badly affected.

NHS worker Iestyn Tenko travels from Caerphilly to Treorchy each day and is worried the replacement bus will not get him to work on time.

"I'll be arriving 10 to 15 minutes late each day because the rail replacement bus hasn't provided an early enough service.

"I'll have to speak to my manager to see if I can start later, otherwise I'll have to find a new job local to home."

Tetiana Mokhova is considering buying a car as she does not have faith in the buses to get her to work


Leanne Culverhouse relies on the train from Ton Pentre to Pontypridd to get to work as a doctor's receptionist.

She said it would be "a long 10 months" and was worried the bus would be late "or not turn up".

When the closure was first announced in March, TfW expected it to last eight months. It is now predicted to last 10.

TfW's Lowri Joyce said the work was "a significant part of our plans for the South Wales Metro so over the next 10 months, that's where our focus will be. It's a complex piece of work".

Ms Joyce said the end result would be "newer trains, faster trains, more frequent services - it's an upgrade that's been needed for a long time".

Sonal Patel fears for her business, which relies heavily on train passengers


Sonal Patel, who owns a convenience store near Porth station fears her business will be devastated as about 80% of her customers use the trains.

"If it is closed it's going to affect my business totally," she said.

Beautician Tetiana Mokhova commutes to Treforest by train but is considering buying a car.

"It will not be easy but I have to because it will be easier. The bus is not so reliable. They can stop running without reason," she said.

Factory worker John Jenkins travels every day from Treorchy to Mountain Ash.

He accepts there will be disruption, but is pleased that improvements are being carried out.

"It might take a bit longer, but I just go with the flow I'll leave earlier if I have to. I think it will improve it."

Welsh Conservative transport spokeswoman Natasha Asghar described said the 10-month wait was "unacceptable", with alternatives being "a crumbling road network and an under-funded bus network".

Plaid Cymru South Wales Central Member of the Senedd Heledd Fychan said: "It's crucial that the rail replacement scheme is a success, with lessons learnt from previous work."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×