2nd time filming at Cardiff Central (Caerdydd Canolog) on the Welsh Valley Lines around Cardiff area and also South Wales Main Line featuring Great Western Railway, Transport For Wales and a one off appearance from CrossCountry Trains.
Cardiff Central is the largest and busiest station in Wales although owned by Network Rail however managed by Transport For Wales.
It first opened on June 19th 1850 as just Cardiff before becoming Cardiff General in 1924 and then rebuilt between 1931 and 1934.
At one time in 1893 the GWR opened a adjacent station called Cardiff Riverside which eventually overtime was merged into Cardiff General in 1940 however the riverside platforms were closed in 1964.
Cardiff General was renamed Cardiff Central by British Rail in 1973
Journey times between Cardiff and London was reduced significantly by the Intercity 125 Class 43 HSTs when first introduced in October 1976 cutting times down from 2 hours and 7 minutes which was set by the Blue Pullman in 1961 down to 1 hour and 53 minutes although that it's aimed to be reduced by the IETs at some stage in the future.
The GWR HSTs on the Long Distance routes ended with the final services from London Paddington on Saturday May 18th 2019 with it's final farewell tour 2 weeks later on June 1st.
However 11 sets will be maintained in shorter 2+4 formation between Cardiff Central and Penzance which will be known as Castle HSTs.
At the time of filming Electrification works on the South Wales Main Line between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central was still ongoing which was planned to be completed by January 2020
However since filming due to difficulties being discovered in the 4 mile long Severn Tunnel means that the Great Western Railway Class 800/802 IETs may not be able to run full electric running between Cardiff Central and London Paddington although they can switch to Diesel mode on the move if required in the tunnel itself however it's like to be the only present solution available until another one is found however there is no set date when full electric running through the Severn Tunnel will commence.
Electrification to Swansea was controversially scaled to Cardiff Central in July 2017 however there are future plans by the Welsh Government to eventually Electrify the Valley Lines around Cardiff as well as down to Swansea although since scaling back at present there is no set date for this will be realised.
As for Transport For Wales which took over from Arriva in October 2018 most of their fleet is due to be overhauled over the next few years with Class 170s coming over from Greater Anglia, Class 230s former D78 stock on London Underground's District Line, Stadier Flirts similar to the Class 755s on Greater Anglia and also a Train/Tram for the Cardiff Bay Line will take over the Class 142, 143 Pacers, Class 150s and Class 175s.
Featuring
Alfie's Videos / Transport For Wales 175107
James Railway Photography
Filmed on Saturday June 22nd 2019 on iPhone 8 and edited on iMovie
Негізгі бет Great Western Railway, Transport For Wales and XC Trains at Cardiff Central on June 22nd 2019
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