Cardiff City Line

Cardiff City Line
A Class 142 train approaches Danescourt en route to Coryton
Overview
Type	Heavy Rail
System	National Rail
Locale	Cardiff
Termini	Cardiff Central Radyr
Stations	4
Operation
Opened	1987
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	Arriva Trains Wales
Rolling stock	diesel multiple units of Pacer classes 142 and 143 and Sprinter classes 150 and 153
Technical
Number of tracks	double track throughout
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The City Line is a commuter railway line in Cardiff that runs between Radyr and Cardiff Central via Fairwater.

The line was opened by the Taff Vale Railway in 1859, as part of its route from Radyr to the docks at Penarth. Subsequent construction by the TVR added links to Cardiff Central and to the Penarth Extension Railway by 1878. Originally the line was freight-only, but over the years saw regular use for empty passenger trains thanks to its links with the depot at Cardiff Canton TMD and also for football specials to Ninian Park stadium and periodic engineering diversions.

British Rail started regular passenger services on this route in October 1987 with support from the Mid & South Glamorgan County Councils. Passenger trains run from Monday to Saturday. The line is also used as a diversionary route for trains serving Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Treherbert when the line between Cardiff Queen Street and Radyr is closed for engineering work. In the past there were shuttle trains on the line to serve Pontypridd and beyond with one stop at Ninian Park.