Rhondda Line

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Rhondda Line
Principal stations

Cardiff Central
Cardiff Queen Street
Cathays
Llandaf
Radyr (for City Line)
Taffs Well
Trefforest Estate
Trefforest
Pontypridd (for Merthyr Line)
Trehafod
Porth
Dinas Rhondda
Tonypandy
Llwynypia
Ystrad Rhondda
Ton Pentre
Treorchy
Ynyswen
Treherbert

The Rhondda Line is a railway line in South Wales from Cardiff to Treherbert. The line follows the Merthyr Line as far as Pontypridd, where it then diverges to continue along the Rhondda Valley.

The places served by the line are listed below:

The line is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) as part of the Valley Lines network. ATW replaced the previous franchise, Wales & Borders Trains in December 2003.

The first section of the line, as far as Pontypridd, is historically, part of the Taff Vale Railway, from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil. At Pontypridd the Rhondda branch diverges and follows the course of the Rhondda Valley. Now single track beyond Porth, the branch suffered from being singled in the early 1980's, just prior to the commencement of the revival of the Valley Lines network. By 1986 a passing loop was constructed at Ystrad Rhondda station (itself newly built, with the original station of that name renamed Ton Pentre), to enable a half hourly service to be introduced. Another new station was opened at Ynyswen on the same day.




Railway lines in Wales:
Main lines:  Gloucester-Newport Line   North Wales Coast Line   Shrewsbury-Chester Line   South Wales Main Line   Welsh Marches Line 
Valley lines:           Butetown Branch            City Line            Coryton Line            Ebbw Valley Line            Maesteg Line 
          Merthyr Line            Rhondda Line            Rhymney Line            Vale of Glamorgan Line 
Rural lines:  Borderlands Line   Cambrian Line   Conwy Valley Line   Heart of Wales Line   West Wales Line