 | 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. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(April 2022) |
| Maesteg Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 AnArriva Trains WalesClass 150 stands 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 | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 28 June 1866; 159 years ago (1866-06-28) | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 8 miles 29 chains (13.5 km)[1] | ||
| Number of tracks | Single track | ||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | None | ||
| |||
TheMaesteg Line is acommuter rail line inSouth Wales fromBridgend toMaesteg. Services usually operate hourly from Maesteg toEbbw Vale Town viaCardiff Central, using theSouth Wales Main Line, followed by theEbbw Valley Railway.
Electrification by 2019 was announced in the Department for Transport'sHigh Level Output Specification of 2012,[2] but later cancelled.[3]
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 throughCaerau and theCymmer Tunnel, known locally as the 'Gwdihw', to passenger stations in Cymmer, known as Cymmer General and further toAbergwynfi. The lines also connected collieries inAbergwynfi andGlyncorrwg. Junctions at bothTondu and 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 Rail andMid Glamorgan County Council. The new stations and line were officially opened byPrince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and 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.
Since 2021, the line has been operated byTransport for Wales Rail. Since December 2024, the regular service pattern has consisted of an hourly service to and fromEbbw Vale Town to Maesteg via Cardiff Central and Bridgend, as part of theValley Lines network.[4] The services are usually operated usingClass 197 Trains on the line alongside with the soon to be phased outBritish Rail Class 150,Class 153 andClass 158 DMUs.[5] but it is expected that eventually services on the line will be operated usingClass 231FLIRT units.[6] However. before December 2024, the service typically ran to and fromCheltenham Spa viaNewport andGloucester; these services now terminate at Cardiff Central. TfW Rail replaced the previous franchisesKeolis Amey Wales, who ran the service from 2018 to 2021,Arriva Trains Wales who ran the service from 2003 to 2018 andWales & Borders who operated the service until 2003.
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| Proposed transport network |  South Wales Metro
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Transport inRhondda Cynon Taf | ||
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