You can take part in our survey, here. Many residents will be aware that Transport for Wales (which is owned by the Welsh Government) is about to undertake a very large project to electrify the Valleys Lines. This will result in more trains (up from 6 per hour each way to 12 per hour each way) and new trains and carriages. You can read more about the project here, here and here. Transport for Wales will need access to the railway at several points along its length. These will be known as 'compounds'. This is where Transport for Wales will store the equipment and materials they need to undertake the work. For safety reasons, most of the work will take place at night, when trains are not running. Transport for Wales tell us that each compound will serve just a short length of track. If the compounds are too far apart, it would take too long to transport equipment and materials to where they are needed, thus limiting the amount of work that could be completed every night. This would increase the time it would take to finish the project - as well as increasing its cost. Transport for Wales are proposing to install one compound in Morganstown (on the Mound Field) and one in Radyr (in the old car park at Radyr Station). Both of these compounds, along with the works on the railway, will bring disruption to those residents who live near these sites. This could include noise and bright lights at night - and increased traffic. The increased number of trains will make the Gelynis Farm pedestrian crossing unsafe to use. A train will pass every 2.5 minutes, on average. As such, Transport for Wales are proposing to build a new bridge to the south of Gelynis Farm, near the M4. The construction of the bridge will bring more disruption to those who live nearby. In the longer term, the works may bring some community benefits. For instance, Radyr Rangers may be provided with a better pitch (and may end up with two pitches). They may also be provided with a clubhouse, changing facilities and storage space. Floodlighting could also be installed. In addition, those who use the trains to commute could benefit from more trains per hour, with modern carriages. Radyr and Morganstown Community Council has asked its Planning Committee to consider this issue. Is the disruption inevitable? Do the compounds have to be sited as proposed by Transport for Wales? If they do, what mitigation is possible for local residents - and how can we ensure maximum community benefit? We have sent Transport for Wales a list of questions (see below) - and we are in touch with local groups, including Morganstown Residents (who attended our Council meeting on 19 November), Radyr Rangers and Pugh's Garden Centre. In the meantime, we would like to hear from you. What are your opinions about the Transport for Wales proposals? You can let us know by taking part in our online survey, by clicking here. At the end of the day, decisions on this project will be made by Transport for Wales, the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council. Our role is to present the views of residents to those organisations - and to lobby on behalf of our community. In the meantime, here are the questions we sent to Transport for Wales: ![]()
1 Comment
Rhodri Thomas
24/1/2021 06:37:56 pm
The benefits that come from the long overdue upgrading of south Wales' railways far outweighs any short term inconvenience experienced by the residents of R and M. Once the work is complete, the trains will be cleaner - less diesel particles for local people to inhale - and more frequent. A better rail service will encourage people to get out of their cars. The car is doomed anyway. Public transport is the future.
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