Home » Cardiff railway electrification works spark backlash over unsightly metal structures

Cardiff railway electrification works spark backlash over unsightly metal structures

Windemere Avenue (Pic: Ted Peskett)

CARDIFF residents whose homes back onto a railway track said they are unhappy with the sight of large metal structures that now greet them when they walk into their gardens.

Transport for Wales (TfW) is currently carrying out work to electrify a number of lines that connect Cardiff with the Valleys, part of its South Wales Metro project, which has involved the installation of metal gantries and wires along sections of railway track across the city.

A number of residents living on Windemere Avenue in Cyncoed said they were notified by TfW about electrification works, but they didn’t know it would have the visual impact that it has had.

The TfW website states that its delivery partners for the Metro do not need planning permission to carry out upgrades to the railway line.

Windemere Avenue (Pic: Ted Peskett)

One resident on Windemere Avenue who did not want to be named said: “We weren’t expecting the impact it would have on the view at the back of the garden and before all we could see were trees and occasionally bits of the Allensbank Graveyard, but that was in the winter.

“We think it might have affected the house prices.”

Referencing one of a number of properties on the street that have been put up for sale over the past year, the resident added that they “couldn’t understand” why it had seemingly dropped in price.

“It’s great to have electrification, but obviously it affects our homes. There was no advance warning of what it would look like. It’s pretty ugly.”

The resident said they had considered growing something in their garden, but added that this would take years to have any effect.

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said the electrification works had “certainly affected houses around here”.

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They added: “We let the hedge grow thinking that it would block it out.

“We grew the hedge to be higher than the fencing and then the next thing [we knew] all of the wiring was put in.”

TfW carried out testing of electrification overhead power lines in Cardiff on February 1 and 2.

As part of the wider Metro scheme, TfW’s plan is to ultimately electrify 170km of track and will include lines to Aberdare, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhymney and Treherbert.

A TfW spokesperson said: “As part of the transformational South Wales Metro project we will be electrifying 170km of track to allow us to operate our brand-new electric trains.

“This involves the installation of Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) in accordance with industry guidelines to ensure the equipment, which carries 25,000 volts, is a safe height and distance from buildings and objects.

“We will not be planting trees for the purposes of screening OLE, any areas identified as suitable for planting will be based on health and safety risks, maintenance, and ecology as per our organisational requirements and commitments.

“Where overgrown trees have been removed for safety reasons or for the installation of infrastructure, it is not appropriate to replant trees in these same areas as this work is essential to ensure the safe running of the railway.

“Vegetation near the railway can be a hazard and a tree falling across the track could result in a severe accident.

“We’ll also be undertaking routine management of unsafe vegetation – such as removing dead, dying or diseased trees and cutting back vegetation which is too close to the line.

“Historic shortfalls of vegetation maintenance on the Core Valleys Lines means we’re seeing big changes on our railway; with more vegetation being removed in some areas than has been for many years.”

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