TfW explain Penarth train service changes ahead of upgrades

On Facebook, Cllr Anthony Ernst wrote: “Penarth commuters are to lose valuable connections into the South Wales Valleys from June, as TfW introduces major improvements for Metro passengers.

“There will be no direct services to Penarth from Rhymney, Bargoed or Ystrad Mynach.

“Put another way, this means that there will be no through trains to anywhere north of Cardiff Central, with all future trains just running to a dead end at the little used Coryton Station near Whitchurch.”

TfW responded by saying: “: “As part of our June 2024 timetable a number of key routes are changing in preparation for new trains and frequency improvements.”

Those changes include services to/from Penarth will go to/from Coryton and Caerphilly, where customers can change for services to Rhymney/Bargoed.

And the new Class 231 trains, currently in use to/from Penarth, will now be used on routes from Rhymney/Bargoed through to Barry/Barry Island via Cardiff. The Penarth route will now use older trains until brand new Class 756 trains are introduced.

The new 231 models are moving from Penarth to the Barry line (Image: TfW)

The 756 models are set to come to Penarth at some point... (Image: TfW)

So why is this happening? TfW went into a little more detail about why the changes are taking place, saying: “The new timetables needed to link Penarth with Coryton and Caerphilly. Class 231s trains are not operationally cleared to travel on the Coryton line.

“We need to ensure our capacity is best targeted to demand. As four carriage trains, it makes more sense to target the 231s on the route between Rhymney/Bargoed through to Barry/Barry Island via Cardiff.

“Our older trains are approaching the end of their working lives and it would not make good financial sense to spend significantly to extend the time we use them for. What we are doing instead is putting them on some of the shorter routes on our network to keep them in service as long as possible.

“We’ve also had to introduce new trains in stages based on factors including; infrastructure improvements and electrification.”

A TfW spokesperson went on to say: “The Metro will see 60 brand new trains and tram trains introduced in the coming years to serve the Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr, Rhymney, Coryton, Penarth, Barry Island and Vale of Glamorgan lines.”

What do you think about the change in services in Penarth? Bad for you now? For the better in the long term? How do you find the train service in Penarth?

Let us know in comments, on our Facebook age, or email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.

Got a story in Penarth? Email harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.