Evaluation of the Caerphilly and Taff Rhondda turn-back project

This was through the provision of the following rail infrastructure:

• an additional platform (known as a ‘turn-back’) at Caerphilly station on the Cardiff to Rhymney corridor
• an additional platform (turn-back) at Pontypridd station on the Cardiff to Taff Vale corridors.

This additional infrastructure was designed to facilitate the running of additional rail services on the Rhymney and Taff Vale corridors, between Caerphilly, Pontypridd and Cardiff. The turn-backs allow trains to terminate at Caerphilly and Pontypridd off the main line, allowing continuous paths for through trains on the main lines. The works were also designed to improve both stations as intermodal facilities.

The scope of the final evaluation included a process evaluation of the implementation and management approaches adopted on the project. No ex-post impact evaluation was undertaken due to the lack of additional services operating to Caerphilly and Pontypridd stations.