The Anonymous Widower

Cardiff And Caerphilly – 24th March 2026

I took this pictures, as I rode up the Rhymney Valley from Cardiff to Caerphilly.

Note.

  1. The trains I took up and down the valley were both Class 756 tri-mode trains.
  2. My train reversed to Penarth in Platform 1.
  3. I think they were running using the diesel power in the power pack.
  4. There is an overhead conductor rail in Platform 1 at Caerphilly station to charge trains.
  5. The electrification North of Caerphilly station can be seen through the bridge in one of the pictures.
  6. Platforms 2 and 3 are not electrified.

I think Caerphilly station is a very neat electrification layout for occasional charging of battery-electric or tri-mode trains.

I have some specific thoughts.

What Have Caerphilly And St. Pancras Thameslink Stations Got In Common?

These pictures show the rigid conductor rail through St. Pancras Thameslink station.

It looks remarkably similar to that in Platform 1 at Caerphilly station.

Judge in this picture.

The rails are probably out of the same Swiss electrification maker’s parts bin.

Both look equally professional with an I-section conductor, which could be aluminium, as it is lightweight and a good electrical conductor.

Google AI finds this.

The I-beam overhead conductor system used in St. Pancras Thameslink station is made of a hollow extruded aluminium profile. This system, known as a conductor beam, holds a conventional copper contact wire, providing a rigid, low-profile alternative to traditional overhead wires.

Key details:

Material: Extruded aluminium profile.
Structure: Hollow, designed to hold an un-tensioned, conventional copper contact wire.
Application: Developed by Balfour Beatty to reduce the required depth of overhead line equipment.

Installation: Often installed in a sinusoidal wave to ensure consistent wear on the pantograph.

This technology is used in areas with restricted overhead space, such as tunnels and some modern station approaches, to manage 25kV AC electrification.

It looks like it’s been used to provide a charging rail in Caerphilly station.

Is The Conductor Rail In Platform 1 Used To Create A Continuous Electrical Connection Around Caerphilly Station?

Look at this OpenRailwayMap, which shows the completed electrification through Caerphilly station.

Note.

  1. Red tracks are electrified.
  2. Black tracks are not electrified.
  3. Caerphilly station is indicated by the blue arrow.
  4. The electrification continues to the Western end of the station.
  5. The two main platforms 2 & 3 are not electrified.
  6. The bay platform 1 is electrified to charge trains for return to Cardiff.
  7. Class 756 tri-mode electric-diesel-battery trains are already in service.
  8. There appears to be a comprehensive bus interchange.

The power for Platform 1 could come from the electrification at the Western end of the station.

I wouldn’t be surprised that the Rhymney Line will be fed with electricity at the heads of the valleys and it is fully-connected down to Cardiff to give a secure electrical connection.

Will Welsh Wind Power From The Heads Of The Valleys Be Used To Power The Cardiff Valley Lines?

To start with, as I know it can be blowy there, I asked Google AI, this question.

“Is Onshore Wind Planned At The Heads Of The Valleys In South Wales?”

I received this answer.

Yes, there is significant onshore wind energy development planned and in progress along the Heads of the Valleys area in South Wales. This region, encompassing areas like Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, and northern Rhondda Cynon Taf, is part of a broader push to increase onshore wind capacity in Wales, with many projects located on Natural Resources Wales forestry land.

Key Developments and Proposed Projects (2025-2026):

Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru: The Welsh government-owned developer has selected sites in South Wales for new, large-scale wind farms intended to be operational by 2040.

Carreg Wen Wind Farm: A planned 18-turbine project located between Aberdare and Maerdy (Rhondda Cynon Taf), near the Hirwaun/Heads of the Valleys area.

Hirfynydd Renewable Energy Park: A proposed project located on the Hirfynydd mountain range between Seven Sisters and Banwen, north of Neath, near the western end of the Heads of the Valleys.

Mynydd Llanhilleth and Trecelyn Wind Farms: Projects in the pre-application or planning stages by Pennant Walters in the Blaenau Gwent area.

Abergorki Wind Farm: A consented three-turbine project on Mynydd Maerdy (Rhondda Cynon Taf) with construction scheduled for 2026.

Operational Context:

Pen y Cymoedd: Already operational and currently the largest onshore wind farm in England and Wales, situated in the hills above the upper Neath, Afan, Rhondda, and Cynon Valleys.

Grid Infrastructure: Proposed new substations, such as one near Hirwaun (Rhondda Cynon Taf), are intended to connect these new projects to the national grid.

These developments are part of a target to generate 70% of Wales’ electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with a focus on areas previously identified as suitable for large-scale wind development.

Note.

  1. Pen y Cymoedd is the largest onshore wind farm in Wales and England, with an installed capacity of 228 MW.
  2. With the right size of battery, I’m fairly sure, that this wind farm could go a long way to powering the Cardiff Valley Lines.
  3. Carreg Wen Wind Farm is planned to be 108 MW wind farm.
  4. Hirfynydd Renewable Energy Park is planned to be a 100 MW hybrid development of wind turbines and solar with a battery.
  5. Mynydd Llanhilleth is planned to be a 48 MW wind farm.
  6. Trecelyn is planned to be a 20 MW wind farm.
  7. Abergorki is planned to be a 13 MW wind farm.

The total of new developments is 389 MW, which is about the same size as a Rolls-Royce SMR.

March 25, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment