Work to deliver the South Wales Metro project has begun on the Rhymney railway line.

The metro will be a public transport network involving new and existing railway lines and bus routes, with the aim of making travel within south Wales quicker, more frequent, cheaper and more environmentally friendly, with increased capacity on journeys.

The project is being carried out by Transport for Wales as part of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, with £738m being invested into the design, delivery and implementation of the scheme.

Of the funding, £445m comes from Welsh Government, with £158m coming from the European Union, and a further £125m from the UK Government.

The project will see more than 100 miles of track electrified, with overhead line equipment used to power new trains.

A number of stations are also set to be upgraded as part of the project.

TfW are set to write to residents living within 200 metres of the Rhymney line to inform them of the work that is set to take place.

Councillor Sean Morgan, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: “I am so pleased to welcome the start of the works to our Rhymney line. This is a really exciting time for transport in Wales and I am so pleased that our residents will start to see physical progress.

“The South Wales Metro will have a positive social, economic and environmental effect, connecting communities and transforming the way we travel around the Cardiff Capital Region. I am looking forward to the completion of this first stage of the Metro.”

For more information about the work TfW will carry out in your area, visit tfwrail.wales/contact-us or call 03333 211202