page_title: South Wales Metro
section_title: Implementation
hierarchical_section_title: South Wales Metro / Implementation
caption_attribution_description: English: Llandaf Station sign with Metro branding
context_page_description: The South Wales Metro is a proposed integration of heavy rail and development of light rail and bus-based public transport services and systems in South East Wales around the hub of Cardiff Central. The first phase was approved for development in October 2013. Physical work on the project is to begin on 3 August 2020.
context_section_description: First Minister Carwyn Jones formally launched the South Wales Metro in November 2015, with the Welsh Government setting out its aspirations for the Metro in its November 2015 publication, "Rolling Out Our Metro".
  Procurement for the Metro began in July 2016, as part of the procurement process for the next Wales & Borders franchise. This was managed by Transport for Wales. This concluded in May 2018, with the awarding of the franchise to KeolisAmey Wales, trading as Transport for Wales Rail, from 14 October 2018. 
  Details of the £5 billion investment in the Metro were announced in June 2018, which included a fleet of new trains and tram-trains, at least five new stations, an on-street extension of the Cardiff Bay branch, and restoration of services between Ebbw Vale and Newport. In October 2018, £119 million of funding was obtained from the European Union to support the modernisation plans. In January 2019, a new report had proposed several new schemes such as a rail link to Abertillery.
  In August 2019 it was announced that work on the project would be delayed, due to "unresolved issues" particularly around maintenance cost estimates, which are preventing sale of the freehold land, buildings, and operational assets, by current owner Network Rail to the Welsh Ministers. The deal will require approval from the Office of Rail and Road before contractor Amey Keolis Infrastructure can undertake work including electrification and other improvements. The project faces a deadline of 2022 for some work, as the work will need to meet the deadline for the £159m in awarded European Regional Development funding, which will not be available after that date due to Brexit.
  It has been announced that the first work on the project will start on 3 August, beginning with track improvements on lines to Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert. These lines will operate as a rail replacement service between 8pm and 5am until December 2020, except on Fridays and Saturdays. The phase two works are scheduled to be completed by 2023.
caption: Llandaf station sign with interim Metro branding, July 2017
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