A new £1 billion rail project is set to be launched in the UK in 2026. The South Wales Metro project, dubbed the “Welsh Tube”, is set to transform public transport in the region of South Wales and features a staggering 105-mile (170km) train line scheme. The new metro-style network will link Cardiff with numerous key towns in Wales including Aberdare, Coryton, Merthyr, Rhymney, Treherbert and Tydfil.

The project has been over 10 years in the making and, similar to that on the London Underground, will see regular trains running in Wales, with some as frequent as every five minutes in some areas.  The Welsh Tube will allow for more accessibility when it comes to rail services and will undoubtedly improve thousands of commuters journeys across the region, thanks to its faster and more frequent services, the Mirror reports.

Backed by the Welsh government, the Welsh Tube will feature 36 modern tram-style trains across six major lines.

These new train lines will all be marked with a slick, colour coded map and, as part of the wider South Wales Metro, will feature a contactless payment system, similar to that found with London’s Oyster card.

Equally similar to London’s Tube, much of the Welsh Tube’s network will run above the ground, with more than half, including a handful of tunnels between Cardiff and Caerphilly.

Residents in Pontypridd will benefit the most from these services with an impressive 12 trains an hour, allowing for a train every five minutes.

Cardiff to Caerphilly will see one train every 10 minutes or six trains an hour including four services per hour from Cardiff to the top of each valley line.

The massive revamp is being hailed as a once-in-a-generation transformation for Welsh transport, bringing faster journeys, better accessibility and more frequent services to thousands of commuters.

Transport for Wales (TfW) has been actively promoting the Welsh Tube, highlighting its benefit of being a “greener way to travel” and is a major “opportunity to build a better Wales for all”.

This is because the Welsh Tube utilizes electric-powered tram-trains, thereby ensuring much lower carbon emissions compared to that of traditional diesel trains and vehicles.

These new trains will also help encourage more people to opt for public transport rather than driving, helping to reduce associated emissions and lowering traffic congestion and associated emissions. 

Alongside these benefits, the South Wales Metro project has been designed to improve air quality by lowering fuel consumption and reducing idling.

By introducing more streamlining fares, passengers can benefit from the hop on and off benefits similar to the Oyster Card and could help boost tourism in Wales.

Hailed as being a once-in-a-generation investment for Transport for Wales, the Welsh Tube will not only cut carbon emissions and lower road congestion but will also help support economic growth in Wales.