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Re: South Wales Mainline Electrification

PostPosted: Mon May 22, 2017 7:59 pm
by Peiriannydd
Zach wrote:I talked to someone who was PM in Network Rail and the super all in one construction train hasn't really worked at all, there was always a reason why it couldn't pile. Unstable bank, no survey for U/G services, ground water, etc etc. They said it would have been quicker to build and another line.


That's what happens when people don't do their homework before starting a major project! Happens all the time, that's one of the many reasons why big infrastructure projects regularly run late and over budget!

Re: South Wales Mainline Electrification

PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2017 11:44 am
by Frank
This is all starting to look a bit depressing. Fair play to the person who put those graphs up - very illuminating. It does seem as if the quality of the line deteriorates once you get passed Wootten Bassett. Is that generally true and has it always been the case? Amazing that it's 40 years since the inter-city trains came in and we're still in this position.

Thinking more economically what drives rail investment. I don't think it's largely about politics or bold(?) visions of the future - more a matter of meeting current demand. We live in a poor region of the UK and it's often forgotten that rail can be a bit of a luxury for many. I was talking to someone who'd gone on the coach to London. Might have taken 4hrs but it was so much cheaper that I doubt he would have ever considered a train. Quite understandably that's where a lot of Welsh people are. Greater economic success would drive more rail demand.

Re: South Wales Mainline Electrification

PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2017 11:55 am
by penarth bloke
There's always the option of flying.

Re: South Wales Mainline Electrification

PostPosted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 9:54 am
by daearegwr
UK Government has now confirmed that the electrification to Swansea is off the table http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/b ... n-13357575

Seems a bit of a kick considering they this week announced who was getting the share of the £6.6bn from HS2. At least we got 5 additional trains though!

Re: South Wales Mainline Electrification

PostPosted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:11 am
by Jantra
daearegwr wrote:UK Government has now confirmed that the electrification to Swansea is off the table http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/b ... n-13357575

Seems a bit of a kick considering they this week announced who was getting the share of the £6.6bn from HS2. At least we got 5 additional trains though!


I imagine that's because the seaside town has yet to discover fire, let alone elastic trickery

Re: South Wales Mainline Electrification

PostPosted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:18 am
by penarth bloke
Nasty bloody comment.

Re: South Wales Mainline Electrification

PostPosted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:05 am
by Lyndon
penarth bloke wrote:Nasty bloody comment.


The over-compensated inferiority complex many Cardiff residents display towards Swansea is fairly mysterious. :D

Re: South Wales Mainline Electrification

PostPosted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 12:07 pm
by Peiriannydd
Well, we all know what Teflon Dave's promises were worth! I do wonder though if this line would have been electrified had the Tories not lost those marginal Welsh seats in the last election. The Tories don't usually spend money in non-Tory seats. Just a thought...

If it is pushed back then I doubt it will actually happen. The additional costs to restart engineering works as a separate project will make it harder to justify. I'm sure in 10-15 years when we're still talking about it, they'll be the inevitable comments of "why didn't we just sort it out in the first place". These sort of false economies is how successive governments waste £billions of our taxes.

I did take some comfort out of this statement: “I’m also asking them to look at improvements to Cardiff and Swansea stations and to ensure services from Pembroke Dock to London via Carmarthen are on new, state of the art Intercity Express trains.”

We do need greater connections to the west of Wales and to be honest, I'd rather they spent the money on improving those lines and linking up Aberystwyth. That would have greater economic benefit because the journey times are limited by track speed limits anyway, regardless of whether it's diesel, hybrid or fully electric.

Re: South Wales Mainline Electrification

PostPosted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 12:08 pm
by Jantra
Lyndon wrote:
penarth bloke wrote:Nasty bloody comment.


The over-compensated inferiority complex many Cardiff residents display towards Swansea is fairly mysterious. :D


yep, that's what it is

Re: South Wales Mainline Electrification

PostPosted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 1:21 pm
by Zach
To me this seems very sensible. What is the point of running the same train all the way to swansea. Virtually everyone left on the train from London gets off at Cardiff and likewise most from Swansea get off at Cardiff. The signalling from Cardiff to Swansea does not justify the huge expense as it's limited to 90mph. Spend the money on this first.