Transport for Wales removes Penarth service from Rhymney line

Services from Penarth ran as part of the Rhymney Line services in early 2023, where they gained new class 231 trains replacing the older class 796 trains.

Major timetable changes were introduced across South Wales yesterday, Sunday, June 2, which means Penarth services will no longer run on the Rhymney Line.

Services to Penarth will run through to Coryton and Caerphilly, with Rhymney services now running through to Barry Island or Bridgend via Rhoose and Llantwit Major.

Colin Lea, planning and performance director for Transport for Wales said: “As part of the June timetable change, the structure of the Core Valley Lines timetable needed to change.

Caerphilly and Coryton services will now run to Penarth in major timetable overhaul. Picture: Transport for Wales (Image: Transport for Wales)“In our old timetable, services to and from Penarth generally ran as part of Rhymney Line services. These gained new Class 231 trains in early 2023, replacing the older Class 769 trains.

“However, as part of the timetable changes, Rhymney services will now run through to Barry Island or Bridgend via Rhoose and Llantwit Major. Class 231s will operate services to and from Barry Island.

“Penarth services will now run through to Coryton and Caerphilly and will temporarily be operated by older ‘Sprinter’ Trains.”

Penarth Services will return to the Rhymney Line after transformation work has been completed, the service will be handed over to new Class 756 trains in 2025.

Transport for Wales is in the process of testing it's Class 756 tri-mode trains, once completed it is expected these will be permanently based on services to Rhymney, Coryton, Penarth, Barry Island and Bridgend via Rhoose and Llantwit Major.

He added: “With work on going to complete electrification of the Rhymney Line, some of those services are currently being covered by  Class 231 diesel trains, which are externally almost identical to the Class 756s.

Rhymney Services will no longer stop at Penarth, but will stop at Cogan, Eastbrook, Dinas Powys, Cadoxton, Barry Dock, Barry, Barry Island, Cardiff Airport and Llantwit Major before ending at Bridgend. Picture: Transport for Wales (Image: Transport for Wales)

“This has given Rhymney Line customers a much earlier benefit from new trains, which have increased capacity and improved accessibility.”

New timetables introduced are for Wales and the borders network which has now entered service.

Routes started in North Wales and are now reaching West Wales, the marches, to Maesteg and recently Ebbw Vale which will form the Pembroke Dock Line which started on June 2.