Delivering a better railway for a better Britain Route Specifications 2017 Wales Wales March 2017 Network Rail – Route Specifications: Wales 02 Route L: Wales SRS L.01 Border (near Pilning) – Swansea 03 SRS L.02/03 Gloucester – Severn Tunnel Junction 07 SRS L.04/05 Newport – Crewe 10 SRS L.06/07 Llanelli – Craven Arms, Heart of Wales line 14 SRS L.08/09 Shrewsbury – Aberystwyth/Pwllheli, Cambrian line (Cambrian Main Line and Cambrian Coast lines) 17 SRS L.10 – 12 Shrewsbury – Chester 21 SRS L.13/14 Chester – Holyhead 25 SRS L.15/16 Wrexham – Bidston 29 SRS L.17 Newport – Ebbw Vale 33 SRS L.18 South Wales Valleys 37 SRS L.19 Bridgend – Maesteg 42 SRS L.20 – 22 Swansea – Milford Haven/Pembroke Dock/Fishguard Harbour 46 SRS L.23 Llandudno – Blaenau Ffestiniog 51 SRS L.99 Other Freight Lines 54 Glossary 59 Interface with other routes (refer to separate Strategic Route Specifications documents) London North Western: SRS M 20 Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury SRS L.01 Border (near March 2017 Network Rail – Route Specifications: Wales 03 Pilning) – Swansea Geographic Map Route specification description Strategic Route Section The Welsh part of the Great Western Main Line includes the Severn Maesteg branch and is used on occasions when Maesteg to Cardiff L.01 Tunnel and is four tracked between Severn Tunnel Junction and through stopping trains cannot be operated between Bridgend and Cardiff reflecting the mix of higher speed passenger trains which Cardiff. use the main lines, and lower-speed freight trains which use the Immediately west of Briton Ferry station, the grade-separated relief lines, and which serve the freight complexes at Llanwern, Skewen junction at Court Sart leads on the freight line to Llandeilo Junction, Llansamlet Neath Newport, Wentloog and Cardiff Tidal. The busiest section for Briton Ferry and one of the daily passenger trains between Cardiff and Swansea Baglan passenger traffic is between Newport and Cardiff where long Port Talbot Parkway Newport Fishguard Harbour uses this route, avoiding the need to go into Severn Tunnel Junction distance trains from north Wales and Manchester share the main Swansea to reverse. To the west of Llansamlet station, on the Llanharan Pencoed lines with London and Bristol trains, plus local trains from Ebbw Vale Pyle Pontyclun approach to Swansea at Landore, a short chord diverges off the Bridgend to Cardiff, and trains from the Midlands and Cheltenham to Cardiff. Ninian Park Cardiff Central main line around Landore depot, which also permits through Bristol Temple Meads The double track section west of Cardiff carries fewer passenger movements to west Wales to avoid Swansea station. The triangle at trains but these together with freight to and from the Port Talbot Landore is used in conjunction with the important Landore depot Legend Coastline area and west Wales make for high capacity utilisation between operated by the Great Western franchisee. It’s used in the event of Strategic Route Section L.01 Strategic Route L Rail Network Cardiff and Margam. sets needing reversal, and sustains the long distance Swansea – Station Major / Key Station London service. The completion of Newport Area Signalling renewal (in early 2011), Newport station reconstruction, and the earlier Severn Tunnel Control Period 5 will see the electrification of the Great Western Junction enhancements, now mean that the four tracked section Main Line from London Paddington to Cardiff. Intercity Express (i.e. to the east of Cardiff) has two stations with four platforms (in Programme (IEP) services will be introduced between Swansea, place of three previously) at each to accommodate traffic at greater Cardiff and London. levels of performance, as well as handling recent growth in main line passenger volumes. On the two tracked section (to the west of Cardiff) capacity is shared between long distance high speed (LDHS) passenger services to Swansea (calling only at Bridgend, Port Talbot Parkway and Neath) and regional and local services which serve a considerable number of local stations, in two groups, as well as freight. Services from Cardiff to Maesteg call at Pontyclun, Llanharan and Pencoed, between Cardiff and Bridgend. The minor stations west of Bridgend (Pyle, Baglan, Briton Ferry, Skewen and Llansamlet) are served by two-hourly stopping trains from Cardiff to Swansea, known as Swanline services. The Manchester to Carmarthen/Milford Haven regional services normally only call at the principal stations between Cardiff and Swansea. With the exception of Bridgend all intermediate stations west of Cardiff have two platforms. At Bridgend, the bay platform at the east end of the station is provided specifically to handle turnround of the South Wales Valleys services, independently of the main line. The bay at the west end of Bridgend station is connected to the SRS L.01 Border (near Pilning) – Swansea March 2017 Network Rail – Route Specifications: Wales 04 Route capability overview Table 1.0 Information Current 2019 2043 Notes Line of route GW900: Pilning to Fishguard Harbour description GW9001: Landore Junction to Swansea Section start Border (near Pilning) Section end Swansea Route availability RA7,8 RA7,8 RA7,8 Gauge W6, W8 W10 from Pilning to Cardiff W10 Signals Track Circuit Block Track Circuit Block ERTMS Speed Predominant linespeed 90mph As current. Raise linespeed where possible in line with The Welsh Route Study identified a choice for funders in CP6 to raise See Sectional Appendix (Main Lines) and 40mph (Relief infrastructure characteristics and capability of the linespeed of the Relief Lines between Cardiff Central to Severn for detailed speed Lines). rolling stock. Tunnel Junction in line with the capability provided by the signalling. profiles Electrification None All four lines Pilning to Cardiff Central electrified 25kV OLE as part of GWML electrification. Passenger train service levels (trains per hour / day) Table 2.0 Current 2019 2043 Notes Typical journey time Pilning to Swansea (FGW LDHS service): 1 hour 30 Reduce journey times to lowest possible in line with linespeed improvements and changes in minutes rolling stock. No. of trains per hour 9 Trains per hour (east of Cardiff): As current with additionally: Possible changes to service frequency, One regional urban service each hour between in line with industry aspirations and 2 Long distance high speed to London Cardiff Central and Ebbw Vale Town. franchise requirements. Two additional morning peak services from 5 Interurban Swansea to London Paddington. Two additional evening peak services from London 2 Regional urban Paddington to Swansea. Other additional services may be specified as part of the next Wales and Borders franchise commencing in October 2018. SRS L.01 Border (near Pilning) – Swansea March 2017 Network Rail – Route Specifications: Wales 05 Current Freight Trains (paths per day) Table 3.0 Current 2019 2043 Route section Severn Tunnel Junction to Cardiff Central Daily paths in 25 paths per day one direction (as As per forecasts in the Freight Market Study per WTT) * Figures are for freight trains in one direction only. Level crossings on route Table 4.0 Type Current No. of level crossings 2019 No. of level crossings 2043 No. of level crossings Supervised: 7 As determined by Level Crossing Policy Automatic: 1 User: 22 * Figures include both private and public crossings. SRS L.01 Border (near Pilning) – Swansea March 2017 Network Rail – Route Specifications: Wales 06 Proposed infrastructure investment in Control Period 5 (2014 – 2019)* and pipeline of schemes beyond CP5 Table 5.0 Project Project Description ELR Implementation Output change Notes Status Date Cardiff Area Signalling Signalling renewal SWM2 CP5 Signalling Complete Renewal Windsor Road Overbridge Structures renewal SWM2 CP5 Renewed asset Complete Track renewals Renewal of life expired track between SWM2 CP5 Renewed asset Complete Pilning and Swansea Port Talbot Station Improvved access and facilities at Port SWM2 CP5 Improved station facilities Complete enhancement Talbot Parkway GWML Electrification Structural modifications BSW, CP5 Modification of structural In development SWM2 assets to accommodate electrification GWML Electrification Electrification from Pilning to Cardiff BSW, CP5 Introduction of electric In development Central SWM2 trains replacing diesel Port Talbot West Signalling renewal and recontrol to SWM2 CP5 Signalling In development Resignalling - Phase 1 the Wales ROC Relief Line upgrade Upgrading Relief Lines between SWM2 TBC Improved capacity and This was presented as a CP6 choice for funders in Uncommitted Cardiff and Severn Tunnel Junction to faster journey times the Welsh Route Study. improve capacity and connectivity. Cardiff Central Masterplan Redevelopment of Cardiff Central TBC A better customer This was presented as a CP6 choice for funders in Uncommitted Station to create a station fit for a experience with more the Welsh Route Study. capital city. space and more services * In addition to the proposed enhancement programme, this table includes other Network Rail funded schemes, renewals and third party schemes where applicable. ** The precise timing and scope of renewals will remain subject to review to enable us to meet our overall obligations as efficiently as possible, consistent with the reasonable requirements of operators and other stakeholders. SRS L.02/03 Gloucester – March 2017 Network Rail – Route Specifications: Wales 07 Severn Tunnel Junction Geographic Maps Route specification description 6WUDWHJLF5RXWH6HFWLRQ / There are four platforms