This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: It needs more explanation of the South Wales Metro and corresponding changes to the line. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(April 2022)
On 16 July 2012 plans to electrify the line were announced by the Government as part of a £9.4bn package of investment of the railways in England and Wales.[3]
The announcement was made as an extension of the electrification of the South Wales Main Line from Cardiff to Swansea and the electrification of the south Wales Valley Lines at a total cost of £350 million. The investment will require new trains and should result in reduced journey times and cheaper maintenance of the network. Work was expected to start between 2014 and 2019, but was then pushed back to between 2019 and 2024.[4][5]
However, as part of Welsh Government's South Wales Metro this line has been taken over,[6] and will soon be electrified[7] in preparation for new Class 756 rolling stock.[8]