The Welsh Assembly confirmed in February 2007 that it was grant funding a scheme to upgrade the line north of Abercynon, in conjunction with European Union Objective 1 assistance.

This included reinstatement of two miles of double track, to enable the introduction of a half-hourly train service; the revenue costs of which the Welsh Assembly also met.

The line continues beyond Aberdare, for goods purposes only, to serve Tower Colliery, which was the last deep coal mine to remain open in South Wales.

[4] In December 2017, the-then operator Arriva Trains Wales introduced extra Sunday morning services on the Aberdare line on a trial basis.

[7] It was announced in March 2011 that the Welsh Assembly Government's 2011–12 capital programme would include the reopening of the line to Hirwaun as part of the Cynon Valley Scheme[8] although the project appears to have advanced little at that time.

[9] As already noted, the line is now closed above Aberdare, but the aspiration to reopen with a passenger service remains and so the track is being retained in situ.

[11] However, as part of Welsh Government's South Wales Metro this line has been taken over,[12] and is now being electrified[13] in preparation for new Class 398 tram-train rolling stock.