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The number of train services will be increased along the Rhymney line from next month, Transport for Wales has announced.

From Sunday June 2, the number of trains running between Bargoed and Rhymney will rise from one per hour to two, from Mondays to Saturdays – with every other train running non-stop between the two stations.

Meanwhile, there will be six trains per hour between Caerphilly and Cardiff, with trains every ten minutes between 6.30am and 6.30pm, Mondays to Saturdays.

Another change introduced from June 2 will see Rhymney and Bargoed services travel to Cardiff Central before continuing on to Bridgend, Barry, and Barry Island. They will no longer travel to Penarth.

Instead, Coryton and Caerphilly services will travel to Penarth.

The changes are coming into effect as part of the next phase of the South Wales Metro project gets underway.

Lewis Brencher, of Transport for Wales (TfW), said the changes will “deliver a host of benefits to customers across our core valley routes”. 

He continued: “We’re making the change now so people can get some of those benefits early before we start introducing electric trains on these routes with an even more frequent service and faster journey times.”

The increase has been welcomed by Caerphilly’s Labour Senedd Member, Hefin David.

Dr David said: “Trains are something I have been working on since I was first elected in 2016 and it is brilliant to see the improvement and progress being made by Transport for Wales, with support from the Welsh Government.

“I see key issues in the constituency through the topics of the emails in my inbox. Train services are something I can categorically say have vastly improved and services will only continue to further improve over time, as we see the completion of the South Wales Metro system by 2025.

“I will continue to work with TfW on this.”