Maesteg Line
 | This article needs to beupdated.The reason given is: It needs more explanation of the South Wales Metro and corresponding changes to the trains and services on the line.(April 2022) |
| Maesteg Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 AnArriva Trains WalesClass 150stands at Maesteg with a terminating service from Cheltenham | |||
| Overview | |||
| Owner | Network Rail | ||
| Locale | Bridgend County Borough | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 7 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Heavy rail | ||
| System | National Rail | ||
| Operator(s) | Transport for Wales Rail | ||
| Rolling stock | Class 150,Class 153,Class 158,Class 197'DMUs | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 28 June 1866 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 8miles29chains(13.5 km)[1] | ||
| Number of tracks | Single track | ||
| Track gauge | 4 ft8+1⁄2in(1,435 mm)standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | None | ||
| |||
TheMaesteg Lineis acommuter rail lineinSouth WalesfromBridgendtoMaesteg.Services usually operate from Maesteg toCheltenham SpaandCardiff Centralvia theSouth Wales Main LineandGloucester to Newport Line.
Electrification by 2019 was announced in the Department for Transport'sHigh Level Output Specificationof 2012.[2]
History[edit]
TheLlynfi and Ogmore Railway(L&OVR) was formed on 28 June 1866 (itself the amalgamation of earlier lines); a standard gauge line as opposed to the main line. On 1 July 1873 the GWR took over the L&OVR.
The line from Bridgend originally operated beyond Maesteg throughCaerauand theCymmerTunnel,known locally as the 'Gwdihw', to passenger stations in Cymmer, known as Cymmer General and further toAbergwynfi.The lines also connected collieries inAbergwynfiandGlyncorrwg.Junctions at bothTonduand Cymmer connected with east–west routes across the Llynfi and Afan valleys.
The Maesteg branch was closed to passenger trains in 1970 (though it remained in use for coal traffic until 1988), and the link with the Afan Valley was lost due to the closure of the Cymmer Tunnel.
A long campaign in the late 1980s and early 90s, resulted in the reopening of the line in 1992 as far as Maesteg byBritish RailandMid Glamorgan County Council.The new stations and line were officially opened byPrince Richard, Duke of Gloucesterand a plaque was unveiled at Maesteg station.
The railway north of Maesteg continued to exist until 2004, however it was removed as part of the Maesteg Washery reclamation scheme. The track to the north of Llynfi North Junction, including the former Nantyffyllon and Caerau stations, have been part of a major housing developments. Reconnection withCymmer (Afan Valley)is financially unviable to reinstate;– the tunnel portal is still visible at the Caerau end but it is completely buried at the Cymmer end.
Today the line is operated byTransport for Wales Railon services fromCheltenham Spato Maesteg via Cardiff Central and Bridgend, and repeated from Maesteg to Cheltenham Spa, as part of theValley Linesnetwork, in February 2024 Transport for Wales started running theirClass 197Trains on the line along with the soon to be phased outBritish Rail Class 150,Class 153andClass 158DMUs.[3]TfW Rail replaced the previous franchises,Arriva Trains Waleswho ran the service December 2003-October 2018 andWales & Bordersin December 2003.
References[edit]
- ^Yonge, John; Padgett, David (August 2010) [1989]. Bridge, Mike (ed.).Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western(5th ed.). Bradford on Avon: Trackmaps. maps 23A & 29B.ISBN978-0-9549866-6-7.
- ^Department for Transport's High Level Output Specification 2012
- ^"Brand new trains on the Maesteg Line".19 February 2024.
- Historical notes are taken fromThe Railway MagazineJuly 1955, pp 445–454
External links[edit]
Media related toMaesteg Lineat Wikimedia Commons
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