South Wales Metro delayed until 2024

Transport for Wales has said that the progress on the South Wales Metro has been delayed and it is now set to be finished by 2024.

Artists impression of Taffs Well depot (Photo: TfW)

The £750 million (€864 million) project includes tram trains on lines from Cardiff to Treherbert, Aberdare, and Merthyr Tydfil. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and has received funds from the UK Government.

The project was due to be completed by next year but Transport for Wales has said that the majority of the first phase is scheduled to be complete in 2024.

The works are said to include electrifying around 170km of track, upgrading stations, installing new telecommunications and signalling systems, and building a new Metro train depot and a signalling control centre.

Transport for Wales is reported to have installed 432 signalling assets and 158km of signalling cable, dug 1,724 holes for electrification masts, installed 109 masts, renewed 18,000 metres of railway track and 25,000 metres of fencing.

A TfW spokesperson said, “Like similar organisations undertaking major infrastructure programmes, we have encountered delays as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent global shortage of available materials but progress is now being made at pace.”