A GROUNDBREAKING move promises faster journeys, more frequent trains and high-tech trams rolling through the heart of the Welsh capital.

A brand-new £1billion train line dubbed the “Welsh Tube” is set to transform travel across the South Wales valleys – with a slick new map to rival London’s Underground.

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The long-awaited South Wales Metro is finally taking shape, promising to slash journey times, boost connections and bring modern transport to thousands living around Cardiff.

And yes – it’s even getting its own colour-coded lines, tap-in tap-out fares and digital destination boards showing when the next train’s due.

The mega project – described as the biggest rail shake-up in 30 years – is expected to be up and running by 2025, with around 170km of track electrified, shiny new stations, and cutting-edge battery and tri-mode trains zipping through the Valleys.

Commuters will soon be able to switch lines at spots like Pontypridd and Radyr to reach their destination faster – just like the Tube pros do down south.

And with more weekday and Sunday services than ever before, it’s set to be a game-changer for South East Wales.

It hasn’t come cheap – the original £734m price tag has ballooned to £1billion, but officials say the benefits will be massive, helping to modernise the region’s railways for good.

The idea was officially unveiled back in November 2015, with big ambitions to boost the economy and improve everyday life across South East Wales.

But planning had already been on track for years – the first phase of the project actually got the green light as far back as October 2013.

The graft has been centred on what rail chiefs call the Core Valley Lines – the crucial routes linking Cardiff with Aberdare, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhymney and Treherbert.

These key lines are set to become the backbone of the South Wales Metro.

Massive construction and engineering works have been powering ahead to bring the rail network up to scratch.

That includes electrifying around 170km of track, giving every station and signal on the Metro route a full upgrade, and even building two brand new stations.

The shiny new fleet will feature Class 398 battery-electric tram-trains that can glide along both regular railways and on-street tracks – a first for the region.

They’ll be joined by Class 231 bi-mode and Class 756 tri-mode trainsets, built to tackle traditional railway lines with ease.

It’s a game-changer for commuters and a major leap into the future for Welsh transport.